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Mexico 

An Illustrated Check List 

of the 

llctmlutwmarg Stamps 

of 

1913-1916 

BY 

peitram W. |f. ^nolc 


AUTHOR OF 

“The Beginner's Guide 99 - “The Postage 
Stamps of Canada" - “ Seychelles 99 
“ Sarawak 99 - “Bulgaria 99 
“Falkland Is 99 

ETC. :: ETC. :: ETC. 


PUBLISHED BY 

Bertram W. H. Poole 

312 Washington Building 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 


December , 1916. 






•i A 

•*«)*> 


Table of Contents 


FOREWORD 5 

SECTION A. — The Type-set Stamps 10 

I — The White Seal Stamps 10 

II — The Green Seal Stamps. 14 

III — The Coach Seal Issue 17 

IV — The Lower California Issue 20 

V — The Anvil Seal Issue 21 

VI — The Oaxaca Issue 23 

SECTION B. — Stamps of Special Design 27 

I — The Ejercito Issue 27 

II — The Transitorio Issue 30 

III — The Perforated Transitorio Stamp.... 32 

IV — The Denver Issue 33 

V — The Famous Men Series 34 

VI — The Perforated Famous Men Set 36 

VII — The Engraved Stamps 37 

VIII — The Carranza Commemorative Stamps. 39 

SECTION C. — Stamps with printed Surcharges.... 40 

I — The Victory of Torreon Issue 40 

II — The Gobierno Constitucionalista 

Surcharge 41 

III — The Villa G. C. M. Monogram 44 

IV — The Carranza G. C. M. Monogram. . ... 47 

V — The G. P. de M. Overprint 49 

VI — Surcharged with New Values 52 

VII — The Guanajuato Surcharge 54 

VIII — The Tuxtla Surcharge 55 


SECTION D. — The Handstamped Surcharges 56 

I — The G. C. M. Issue 56 

II — The Acambaro Issue 62 

III — The Army in Transit Stamps 62 

IV — The Aguascalientes Issue 63 

V — The Chihuahua Issue 64 

VI — The Colima issue 66 

VII — The Culiacan Issue 66 

VIII — The Durango Issue 68 

IX — The E. S. Surcharge 69 

X — The Guanajuato Overprints 71 

XI — The Guaymas Overprint 72 

XII — The Juarez Issue 72 

XIII — The Leon Issue 76 

XIV — The Lower California Issue 77 

XV — The Matehuala Issue 79 

XVI — The Monterrey Issue 79 

XVII — The Nuevo Leon Issue 83 

XVIII — The Salamanca Issue 84 

XIX — The San Luis Potosi Issue 85 

XX — The Sinaloa Issue 85 

XXI — The Torreon Horseshoe Surcharge ... 89 

XXII — The Torreon One-line Surcharge 91 

XXIII — The Zacatecas Issue 93 

APPENDIX A.— The Official Stamps 94 

I — The Rouletted Issue 94 

II — The Perforated Issue 95 

III — The G. P. de M. Issue 95 

IV — The Foreign Service Overprint 96 

APPENDIX B. — Revenue Stamps used for Postage . . 96 
APPENDIX C. — Concluding Notes 97 

INDEX 100 


Foreword 


The so-called rebel stamps of Mexico, issued during 
the troublous times of the past three years, have right- 
ly attained considerable popularity. Mexico has always 
been popular with advanced collectors and its wonder- 
ful array of issues, with their many interesting varieties 
and sub-varieties, will always endear it to the studious 
specialist. Anything like a representative accumulation 
of the nineteenth century issues is, however, beyond the 
means of the average individual, though a valuable and 
extensive collection of the issues of the twentieth cen- 
tury — consisting almost entirely of the revolutionary 
stamps — can be obtained at comparatively small cost. 

No apology is needed for these special stamps — under 
the Constitutionalist regime it is obvious the regular 
federal stamps were not acceptable, nor were the issues 
of the Constitutionalists any the more acceptable in 
those parts of the country temporarily under the con- 
trol of other factions — and if some of the issues are 
crude in appearance they are none the less interesting 
on that score, and the majority of them are quite innocent 
of speculative intent. 

When one considers the widespread interest these 
stamps have aroused it is remarkable how little has ap- 
peared concerning them in the columns of our philatelic 
journals, and surprising how many in-accuracies and 
mis-statements have been allowed to pass unchallenged 
in the little that has been published. The first issues, 
usually known as the white and green seal issues of 
Sonora, have had their historian, and in his book Mr. 
G. W. Linn has given us an excellent and comprehensive 
survey of these stamps. No attempt has been made to 
give a history of the issues as a whole — probably such 
a history would not be practicable at the moment owing 


to the almost insurmountable difficulties in the way of 
obtaining reliable and detailed information concerning 
many of the locally produced stamps while the political 
situation in Mexico still remains so unsatisfactory. 

The present modest effort makes no pretensions at 
being even an abridged historical survey — it is simply a 
check list of the varieties known to the writer, which 
it is hoped will prove of some slight value to the many 
collectors who specialize in these stamps. So far as 
the type-set stamps, stamps of special design, and type- 
printed surcharges are concerned few points that are 
difficult of elucidation arise, though the status of cer- 
tain varieties at present included in the catalogues is 
likely to be the subject of controversy for some time to 
come. The stamps that are least understood and present 
the greatest difficulties to the student are the hand- 
stamped provisionals. These were largely issued at a 
period when stamps of special design or with the regular 
printed surcharges were not readily obtained and when 
it was specifically ordered that none of the post-offices 
under Constitutional control were to sell the federal 
stamps until some distinctive overprint had been first 
applied. Apparently postmasters were left to their own 
devices as to what form these overprints should take, 
with the result that we have a diversity of types that is 
interesting in the extreme. 

And here is an excellent spot to digress for a moment 
while we take strong exception to the statement made 
concerning these stamps in a footnote in Scott’s catalogue 
viz : 

It is stated that in parts of Mexico occupied by 
the revolutionary forces, instructions were 
given to apply a distinguishing surcharge to all 
stamps found in the post-office. This sur- 
charge was usually some arrangement or ab- 
breviation of the words “Gobierno Constitu- 
cionalista.” We list such surcharges as were 
specially authorized or were in general use in 

6 


large sections of the country. There were 
numerous other hand-stamped surcharges each 
of which was used in one town or locality. At 
the best they were merely control marks and of 
no more significance to general collectors than 
similar control marks used in Ecuador in 1902- 
07. The fact that they were often struck in an 
unnecessary variety of colors and positions sug- 
gests the influence of philatelists. Eventually 
the use of stamps bearing any surcharges other 
than those we list was forbidden. 

The statement contained in the above paragraph com- 
paring these Mexican surcharges with the control marks 
of Ecuador is singularly unfortunate as proof of the 
similar nature of the overprints! The control marks ap- 
plied to the Ecuadorean stamps did not alter their postal 
status or usage in the slightest. It was simply a pre- 
caution taken to demonetise a large stock of exactly 
similar stamps it was believed had been stolen from the 
post-office during the excitement incident on a devastat- 
ing fire which raged in the city of Guayaquil. There 
was no actual proof that any stamps had been stolen 
and the control marks were applied as a precautionary 
measure to prevent stamps being used for postage which 
had not been paid for. With the Mexican stamps the 
case is, entirely different. Here we have stamps of the 
old order adapted to the needs of the new Government 
by means of a distinguishing overprint. The form of 
the overprint matters not in the slightest, and we do 
not see how any logically minded collector can dif- 
ferentiate between the printed surcharges and the hand- 
stamped ones — meaning exactly the same thing — merely 
on the grounds that they were stamped by hand and, 
in some cases, were used in a comparatively small ter- 
ritory. These locally overprinted stamps were perfect- 
ly good for postage in any town under Constitutionalist 
control as we have had sufficient proof of in the shape 
of innumerable legitimate covers franked with stamps 

7 


with certain overprints and mailed in towns long dis- 
tances from the locality in which the overprints were 
applied. These overprints mark a change of Govern- 
ment — a step just as drastic and far-reaching as is shown 
by the Panama stamps of 1903-4 (also overprinted by 
means of handstamps) which are catalogued without 
comment. 

By what process of reasoning the catalogue compilers 
can consistently stigmatize these overprints as control 
marks and then list the similar printed surcharges is too 
deep for us to fathom ! True these locally applied over- 
prints are somewhat numerous and difficult to obtain, 
and their inclusion would extend the already long list 
of Mexican varieties considerably, but neither of these 
are logical reasons for their exclusion. The little “sting” 
that the “variety of colors and positions suggests the 
influence of philatelists” is almost entirely unwarranted 
except in one or two instances which we shall refer to 
in due course. This inuendo is all the more remarkable 
in view of the many printed surcharges catalogued 
which were undoubtedly made for philatelic consump- 
tion and which were probably never used for postage 
at all! Truly the more one studies a catalogue the 
greater one's conviction that consistency is the rarest 
of virtues ! 

But, to return to our muttons. In this small volume 
we have made no attempt to deal with any of these 
revolutionary stamps from a historical point of view 
and, owing to a paucity of reliable information, neither 
has any attempt at chronological order been made. It 
has seemed more convenient to divide the subject into 
logically defined groups so that in our treatment of the 
stamps we have four chief divisions to consider viz: 

A. — The type-set stamps. 

B. — Stamps of special design. 

C. — The printed surcharges. 

D. — The hand-stamped surcharges. 

8 


We have also added three appendixes — one listing the 
official stamps, the second those revenues authorized 
for postal use, and the third those varieties not specifical- 
ly referred to elsewhere in this book. 

An index at the end of the volume will facilitate refer- 
ence to any desired varieties. 

In conclusion we have pleasure in acknowledging gen- 
erous assistance rendered in the compilation of this work 
by Mr. John N. Luff, Mr. W. Parker Lyon, Mr. W. J. 
Morgan and others. 



9 


Section A» 

THE TYPE-SET STAMPS. 
I. — The White Seal Stamps. 



The stamps of this series, comprising the values lc, 
2c, 3c, 5c and 10c, are of the design illustrated above. 
The central numerals, value in words at the sides, and 
CORREOS are in red and the rest of the design is in 
black. The printing forms, for both the red and black 
portions of the design, were set up from ordinary printers’ 
type, a row of five designs being made so that only five 
stamps were printed at a time. The sheets consisted of two 
impressions from each of these red and black settings 
printed tete-beche in relation to each other, with a fairly 
wide, plain margin between. In other words, the com- 
paratively small sheets of paper forming the “post-office” 
sheets bore an impression of five stamps on each edge 
and as both are right way up in relation to the edges 
of the paper there is no top or bottom to the sheets. 
While full sheets are, of course, of the greatest interest 
to specialists the five main types, represented by the five 
type-set designs, with their minor varieties caused by 
corrections of errors and slight re-setting, furnish all the 
varieties an advanced collector requires. The same type 
was used for all five values with the alterations of the 

10 


numerals and words denoting the respective denomina- 
tions in the red setting. 

The five types are all readily distinguished and are 
from the point of view of the philatelic student of equal 
rarity and interest. Some types, however, present such 
differences from what may be considered the normal that 
most general collectors will want them and they have 
thus attained an enhanced value. For instance, in the 
case of the 2 centavos the large numeral on the center 
stamp of the strip of five is totally different from those 
on the other four types. Consequently it has been ele- 
vated to the distinction of a catalogue variety and, 
judged by the shape of the numeral alone is four times 
as rare as the others. Then, again, in the case of the 5 
centavos the fifth stamp in the row of the earlier print- 
ing shows the word at right spelled “CENTAVOB” and 
this also commands a higher price as a catalogue variety 
though, in reality, it is no scarcer than any of the other 
four types. In fact, in the case of certain printings of 
this value, the fifth stamp with corrected spelling is 
rarer than the error. 

To make separation a matter of ease the stamps were 
rouletted at each side and at the bottom with ordinary 
printers’ rouletting rule. This punctured the paper with 
small splits in a straight line. It was evidently origin- 
ally intended to perforate the stamps and, in fact, a few 
sheets of the 5c were perforated on three sides and issued 
for use. Probably it was found in practice that this per- 
foration took too long and it was early abandoned in 
favor of the more speedy rouletting. 


0 @ d) © 


The type used for the large numerals in the center of 
the design is by no means uniform. For the lc and 10c 
Roman numerals were used and these remained un- 

11 


changed throughout the whole period that these type- 
set stamps were in use. For the 2c, 3c and 5c wide, 
heavy faced numerals were used (with the exception of 
the third stamp in the setting of the 2c as previously re- 
ferred to) and while this type was always used for the 
3c later issues of the 2c and 5c had Gothic or sans-serif 
figures. So far as the 2c is concerned none of these 
Gothic numeral varieties are found except in conjunction 
with the black rouletting, but the change for the 5c was 
made while the issue under discussion was in use. This 
type is generally known as the “thin 5” in contra-dis- 
tinction to the thicker and heavier numerals of the earlier 
printings. 

Shortly after this new setting of the 5c came into use 
it seems to have dawned on the printers that much time 
and trouble might be saved by rouletting the stamps at 
the same time that they were printed and consequently 
a border of rouletting rule was set around and between 
the five designs of the black form and this, being slightly 
higher than the type, took the black ink and also 
cut short, straight slits into the paper. 

All the foregoing varieties were embossed more or less 
clearly with the word “CONSTITUCIONAL” or some 
portion of it as a control mark. This embossing was ap- 
plied to each stamp separately by hand and naturally it 
not only varies in position, but also in sharpness. Though 
varieties with double embossing and with embossing 
omitted are known it speaks volumes for the care which 
was generally exercised in this work when we state that 
only the 2c is known with the embossing applied to the 
back of the stamps instead of to the face. Specimens 
from spoiled sheets or printers’ waste are known with- 
out embossing or with a faked embossing. Where por- 
tions of the word are clear the latter are not difficult to 
identify as the lettering of the fakes differs in marked de- 
gree from that of the genuine but, unfortunately, in many 
cases it is not possible to tell legitimate varieties unem- 
bossed by mistake from specimens cut from the waste 

12 


sheets. Perhaps, however, the difference is not of vital 
importance except to an extreme philatelic purist. 

The paper used for these stamps was white wove 
differing a little in texture, some sheets showing the 
manufacturer’s watermarks. Of these latter there are 
two styles, one having the words “PEERLESS MILLS” 
in one line in large, single-lined letters and the other hav- 
ing “YUKON-AURORA,” with a rising sun between, 
in two lines in double-lined capitals. While these water- 
marked varieties are of interest to a specialist their phi- 
latelic importance is not great. 

CHECK LIST. 

Embossed “CONSTITUCIONAL.” Perf. is. 

be black and red. 

(a) Variety, “CENTAVOB.” 

Embossed “CONSTITUCIONAL.” Colorless Roulette. 

1c black and red. 

(a) Double embossing. 

2c black and red. 

(a) Roman instead of heavy faced “2.” 

(b) Without embossing. 

(c) Double embossing. 

(d) Embossed on back. 

(e) Same as (a) with double embossing, 

(f) Same as (a) embossed on back. 

3c black and red. 

(a) Double embossing. 

6c black and red (thick “5.”) 

(a) Variety, “CENTAVOB.” 

6c black and red (thin “5.”) 

10c black and red. 

(a) Double embossing. 

Embossed “CONSTITUCIONAL.” Black roulette 

5c black and red (thin “5.”) 

(a) Variety, “MARO.” 


13 


II. — The Green Seal Stamps. 



The next important event in the history of these type- 
set stamps was the application of the “green seal” con- 
trol in place of the embossed word. This control mark 
is circular in shape and shows a cap of liberty in the center, 
from which rays emanate in all directions to the edge of the 
circle, within a pair of scales, the whole being emblem- 
atic of the justice of the revolutionaries 5 cause and their 
fight for liberty. There are five types of these seals and 
they differ so much from one another in minor details, 
although a casual observer might well be pardoned for 
thinking them all exactly alike, that, as Mr. Linn has 
pointed out, they were doubtless made from separate 
drawings. These seals were probably cast in type-metal 
or some similar substance and were at first mounted on one 
base, though later they may have been separated for 
differences in spacing have been observed, and they are 
also know transposed as compared with their original 
arrangement. 

When these seals were first introduced a quantity of 
the lc, 3c and 10c stamps of the preceding series, but 
without the embossed word, were all ready for issue, 
and the seals were applied to these sheets. There were also 
a few sheets of the 2c and 5c (both types) on hand as 
well as a few sheets of all values, excepting the 10c, 
which had already been embossed with the word “CON- 
STITUCIONAL,” and to all of these the green seals 
were applied. The seals were also printed on some 
sheets of the 5c (thin “5”) with black roulette — or rather 

14 


sheets in which the portion of the design and roulette 
which should have been black were a brownish black 
differing greatly in shade. This was apparently caused 
by an accidental mixing of black and red ink and while, 
as shades, these are not of very great interest excepting 
where they are more reddish than black, strips of the 
five types are nevertheless of interest to the specialist as 
showing a different arrangement of the seals. These 
varieties would, however, hardly appear to be of suffi- 
cient importance to b<e elevated to the rank of catalogue 
varieties under the heading of “Colored roulette”! 

It is perhaps worthy of note that none of the “white 
seal” stamps, or the early printings with “green seal” 
have the black portion of the design in a true black. If 
these stamps are carefully examined and compared with 
some jet black color it will be found that there was a 
distinct trace of red or brown in the composition of the 
ink used for the border, etc. 

After existing stocks of the stamps had been used up 
all further printings with the green seal control had 
black roulette. In most cases this is so faintly applied 
as to be entirely useless as a means of separation, and it 
only serves as an indication as to the proper point for 
cutting the stamps apart. Evidently this faint rouletting 
was intentional and was used owing to the fact that the 
stamps of the earlier printings with heavy roulette, 
showed an embarassing tendency to fall apart without 
provocation. 

When the first printings of the 2c with black roulette 
were made a Gothic numeral was substituted for the wide 
“2” previously used. The numeral on the lc remained 
unchanged, that on the 5c was the thin Gothic variety 
while no 10c with black roulette were ever made in the 
original supplies of these stamps. 

About September, 1914, the type-set stamps with 
green seals, which had been replaced by other issues al- 
most throughout Mexico, were resusitated for use in the 
State of Sonora. The original type-set forms were found 

15 


and so far as the lc, 2c and 3c denominations are con- 
cerned it will be found an almost impossible matter for 
the general collector to distinguish between the re-issues 
and the original printings with black roulette. The spe- 
cialist, however, will have little difficulty in differentiat- 
ing them for the arrangement of the seals is different 
in relation to the five types. The 5c is at once dis- 
tinguishable from the fact that the wide-faced “ 5 ” was 
again used and this was never previously found in con- 
nection with the black rouletting. The 10c is also at 
once identified for in the original issues this was never 
found with black roulette. 

Printers’ waste, or unfinished sheets, provide us with 
such varieties as stamps without seal though bona-fide 
errors in this series are really rare. That great care was 
exercised in their production is evident from the fact 
that no varieties with inverted seal are known — though 
this would have been an error that might easily have 
occurred — and the only known errors are confined to a 
double impression of the seal on the 5c and a sheet or 
two of the lc and 5c with the seals omitted from one 
row. These latter are, of course, individually, in the 
case of the lc, not easily distinguished from the printers’ 
waste varieties already alluded to. 

CHECK LIST. 

With Green Seal. Embossed “CONSTITUCIONAL ” Colorless, 
roulette. 

lc black, red and green. 

2c black, red and green. 

(a) Roman instead of heavy-faced “2.” 

5c black, red and green (thick “5.”) 

5c black, red and green (thin “5.”) 

With Green Seal. Colorless Roulette. 

U black, red and green. 

3c black, red and green. 

5c black, red and green (thick “5.”) 

(a) Variety, “CENTAVOB.” 

5« black, red and green (thin “5.”) 

10c black, red and green. 

(a) Without seal. 


16 


With Green Seal Black Roulette all round. 
1c black, red and green. 

(a) With seal omitted. 

2c black, red and green. 

3c black, red and green. 

(a) Variety “CENTAVO.” 

(b) With seal omitted. 

5c black, red and green (thin “5.”) 

(a) Variety, “MARO.” 

(b) With seal omitted. 

(c) With seal double. 

(d) “I” of “CINCO” omitted. 

RE-ISSUE. With Green Seal. Black Roulette, 
lc black, red and green. 

(a) “Sob” of “Soberano” omitted. 

2c black, red and green. 

(a) “Sob” of “Soberano” omitted. 

(b) Without seal. 

3c black, red and green. 

(a) “Sob’' of “Soberano” omitted. 

5c black, red and green (thick “5.”) 

10c black, red and green. 

III. — The Coach Seal Issue. 



Althought the chronological sequence of the various 
issues by the different revolutionary factions is not al- 
ways clear, and there was occasional overlapping of is- 
sues, we do know that between the issue of the “green 
seal” stamps and the ones we are about to discuss several 
other emissions were made. But as we pointed out in our 
preliminary remarks we have subordinated chronological 
order in favor of a division into clearly defined groups 
though, in dealing with each of these groups we follow 
the original order of the emissions so far as the facts are 
known. 


17 


The type-set issue we have now to describe is gener- 
ally known as the “coach seal” issue on account of the 
fact that the main feature of the design is a stage-coach 
shown on the seal. The six values of this series are all of 
the same design and, as in the case of the “green seal” set, 
three printings were necessary before the stamps were 
ready for sale, viz., one for the background, one for the 
design, and another for the seal. The post-office sheets 
contained two impressions of twenty stamps each and, 
again as in the precedent established by the “green seal” 
series, these impressions were placed tete-beche in rela- 
tion to each other with a space between. The settings, 
therefore, for each of the three printings necessary for 
the completed stamps consisted of twenty replicas which 
were arranged in two horizontal rows of ten each. 

The background consists of a repetition of a hollow 
cross shaped ornament with small circles in each angle 
and in the center, there being six rows of five ornaments to 
the row for the background of each stamp. This back- 
ground “plate” was used for all six denominations with- 
out alteration and, as is shown by the presence of small 
flaws and defects, the two impressions on each sheet were 
always printed tete-beche just like the main part of the 
design and the seal. 

The “plate” for the design (illustrated above) was set 
up from ordinary printer’s type and though it would not 
be a matter of impossibility it would certainly be a hard 
task to reconstruct a setting from single specimens, 
owing to the very slight nature of the differences in most 
cases. The same plate was used for each denomination 
with the necessary alteration of the large numerals of 
value and the removal of the “S” from “CENTAVOS” 
for the 1 centavo. 

The seal shows a pair-horse coach with mountains in 
the. background, surmounted by a cap of liberty from 
which rays project downwards on both sides. Below the 
cap the letters “S.P.” are shown, these standing for “Ser- 
vicio Postal.” All the seals are so much alike that we 

18 


believe they were made from one drawing. In fact, it 
would seem that one electrotype was made which was 
duplicated ten times and this row of ten was then dupli- 
cated, for small peculiarities noticed in certain seals in 
one row are duplicated in the corresponding seals of the 
other row. Evidently all twenty electrotypes were 
mounted on one base for there seem to be no varieties of 
spacing or arrangement. 

There were several printings of most values some of 
which are well defined and easily identified by the shades 
of the background or seal. In the case of the lc, 5c and 
50c, the earlier printings have the background in much 
deeper tints than in later productions, the 2c and 10c 
vary but slightly, while in the case of the 20c there were 
two distinct issues, the first having the seal printed in 
blue and the second in green. 

This issue marks a retrograde movement insofar that 
the stamps were issued imperforate and without gum. 
The greatest care was exercised in their production as is 
shown by the fact that, although such an error might 
easily have occurred considering the method of manu- 
facture, no varieties with inverted seal are known. The 
lc is known with double seal and the lc, 2c and 5c exist 
without seal. All these errors are quite rare and it seems 
probable that in each instance only one-half sheet 
(twenty stamps) was so issued. 

CHECK LIST. 

The colors of the background are given first and those of the 
seal last. 

With Coach Seal. Imperforate. 

lc deep blue, black and red. 

(a) Pale blue, black and red. 

(b) Without seal. 

(c) Double seal. 

2e pale green, black and orange. 

(a*) Without seal. 

5c orange, black and green. 

(a) Yellow, black and green. 

(b) Without seal. 

10c blue, black and red. 


19 


20c orange, black and blue. 

20c yellow, black and green. 

50c deep green, black and orange. 

(a) Pale green, black and orange. 

IV. — The Lower California Issue. 



This issue is very similar to the ‘‘coach seal” series 
just described, but was intended for use in Lower Cal- 
ifornia only. The design is the same with the exception 
that in the black form in place of “SONORA — MEX- 
ICO” we now find the inscription “DISTRITO SUR— 
DE LA BAJA CAL— MEXICO,” in three lines. Ap- 
parently the same “plates” were used in producing the 
background and seal and so far as the black form was 
concerned the same numerals, borders, and letters seem 
to have been used with the exception of the altered in- 
scription at base. 

There are only four values in this series and the colors 
are different from those of the corresponding denomina- 
tions in the preceding set. The sheets consisted of two 
impressions of twenty stamps each as before, these also 
being placed tete-beche in relation to each other. 
This issue was but slightly used judging by the scarcity 
of genuinely used copies. 

CHECK LIST. 

Background in first and seal in last color named. 

Inscribed “BAJA CAL.” Imperforate, 
lc pale yellow, black and blue. 

2c gray, black and olive-green. 

5c olive-green, black and carmine 
10c flesh, black and violet. 


20 


V. — The Anvil Issue. 



We now come to a set of stamps superficially re- 
sembling the “coach seal” series but yet showing con- 
siderable difference when closely examined. This set is 
usually known as the “anvil” issue on account of the fact 
that the chief object in the design of the seal is an anvil 
in place of the stage-coach on the earlier issue. These 
stamps are historically interesting as being the last is- 
sued by the Villa faction in Sonora. The series consists 
of five values — lc, 2c, 5c, 10c and 20c — and while it is 
generally conceded that the 5c and 10c denominations 
were on sale in several postoffices it has been claimed 
that the lc, 2c and 20c values were never sold at a post- 
office or used for postal purposes. We have not the 
space to enter into the whys and wherefors of this dis- 
cussion or the self-interested reasons which seem to 
have actuated certain parties into decrying the legit- 
imacy of these values, but from the published informa- 
tion and our own personal conversation with gentlemen 
who were in a position to know the true facts of the 
case we can say, unhesitatingly, that these three values 
were on sale at Hermosillo and that a number were un- 
doubtedly used for postage there on the day before the 
post-office was closed and the Villista adherents made a 
hurried flight from the city to escape capture by the 
Carranza troops. 

Like the two preceding issues three printings were 
necessary for the finished stamps. The sheets consisted 
of two impressions of twenty stamps each as before, but 

21 



these, instead of being placed foot to foot, were placed 
directly under each other, with a plain narrow margin 
between. 

Possibly the same form was used for the back- 
ground — at any rate the same sort of ornamental crosses 
were used and they were arranged in the same manner 
for the groundwork of each individual label. The black 
form was re-set, the numerals being smaller and “MEX- 
ICO” in Roman instead of Gothic capitals. 

The design of the seal shows an anvil surmounted 
by a cap of liberty with a spray of leaves at each side. 

The 5c and 20c values are known without seal and a 
number of these errors were used for postage. The 20c 
is also known with the seal greatly misplaced so that it 
shows on the corners of the stamps instead of on the 
centers. 

Almost as soon as any of these stamps were ready for 
issue it was decided to overprint them with the word 
“PLATA” to show they were only to be sold against 
silver and not for the depreciated paper currency, and 
though the 1c, 5c, 10c and 20c were so overprinted none 
of them could have been issued as by the time they 
were ready Hermosillo was in the hands of the Car- 
ranzistas. At the same time a 50c denomination was 
prepared this having the word “PLATA” introduced in- 
to the design between “CENTAVOS” and “SONORA.” 
None of the sheets of this value were ever finished, the 
lower two rows all being without the seal. 

CHECK LIST. 

Background in first and seal in last color named. 

With “Anvil” seal. Imperforate. 

lc pale blue, black and orange. 

2c pale blue, black and orange. 

5c yellow, black and green. 

(a) Without seal. 

10c pale blue, black and carmine. 

20c yellow, black and green. 

(a) Without seal. 

(b) Seal misplaced. 


22 


Prepared for use but not issued. Stamps as above overprinted 
“PLATA” in black. 

le pale blue, black and orange. 

5c yellow, black and green. 

10c pale blue, black and carmine. 

20c yellow, black and green. 

Same design as above with ‘ PLATA” inserted. 

50c blue, black and orange. 

(a) Without seal. 

VI. — The Oaxaca Issue. 


CORREOS 



CENTAVO, 


The last of the type-set stamps we have to consider 
are the stamps issued by the State of Oaxaca. The peo- 
ple of this State refused to take sides with any of the 
revolutionary factions, preferring to be neutral and go 
about their business without outside help or interfer- 
ence. This was all right for a time, but as so often hap- 
pens to neutrals, trouble came their way unasked. A 
Carranza force entered the city of Oaxaca in November, 
1914, and took possession of it without resistance, but an 
attempt to take full control of all legislative and execu- 
tive affairs met with immediate opposition, and in the 
fighting which followed the entire Carranza force was 
annihilated. Naturally this hardly met with the ap- 
proval of the Carranzistas as a whole and they declared 
war upon Oaxaca and the State was surrounded and 
placed in a state of siege. It was during the period that 
supplies of all sorts were cut off that the special postage 
stamps were issued. 

These stamps were all of the same design and show 
as a centerpiece the Arms of Oaxaca i. e., a Mexican 

23 


eagle perched on a branch of cactus holding a snake in 
its bill and claws, surrounded by the inscription “Estado 
Libre y Soberano de OAXACA.” In an interesting article 
concerning these stamps, which appeared in “Mekeel’s 
Weekly” for September 23rd and 30th, 1916, Mr. Roder- 
ick Enfield says this part of the design was a wood-cut. 
Possibly the original “die” was a wood-cut and from this 
42 replicas were made in type-metal or some similar sub- 
stance. Around this centerpiece was a type-set border 
and inscriptions as shown in the accompanying illustra- 
tion. The first setting consisted of 21 repetitions of this 
design arranged in seven horizontal rows of three each. 
The sheets consisted of two impressions from this set- 
ting placed side by side, close together. The lc seems 
to have been printed exclusively from this setting so 
that on the full sheets varieties shown on the left hand 
half are shown on the corresponding stamps on the right 
hand portion. The first printings of the 5c were also 
printed from this setting of 21, but in thiscase one impres- 
sion was always reversed as compared with the other, so 
that we have seven tete-beche pairs in each sheet. A 
later printing of the 5c had smaller numerals and these 
are never found tete-beche, though some sheets show im- 
pressions of both varieties side by side. 

The 2c, 3c and 10c values were printed from a setting 
of 42 designs and the highest value was printed in two 
colors. In each case a tinted background, the size of the 
stamps, was first printed, this being in the same color 
as that chosen for the stamp (in blue for the 10c) and 
as a rule it is very faint. 

Specialists can identify at least two distinct printings 
of all except the 10c value, the early impressions being 
generally clear and distinct and the late ones more or 
less blurred. 

These stamps were printed on the backs of post-office 
receipt forms so that, in most cases, printing of various 
kinds is shown on the back. For the 10c a small lot of 
paper with blue lines on the back was used, while the lc 
is known on a thick, yellowish paper with plain back. 

24 


The perforation was normally 12, but an accident to 
this machine resulted in one with a gauge of 10 being 
used for a short period. Stamps with a compound of 
both perforations are known. 

The stamps were, speaking generally, so poorly exe- 
cuted that it would be a fairly simple matter to recon- 
struct the settings. In the following check list we give 
only the more prominent varieties, or such as are con- 
stant and not due to defective printing. 

CHECK LIST. 

Type-set. Perforated 12 . 

lc purple. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Imperforate and printed on both sides. 

(c) Perf. 10x12. 

(d) Imperforate horizontally. 

(e) “1” omitted from right lower corner. 

(f) Broken and deformed “5” instead of “1” in lower left 
corner. 

(g) No period after “CENTAVO.” 

(h) Thick yellowish paper. 

(i) “C” omitted from “CORREOS.” 

2c green. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Imperforate horizontally. 

(c) Double perforation. 

(d) Perf. 10. 

(e) Double impression. 

(f) Inverted “2” in lower left corner. 

f (g) “C” of “CORREOS” omitted. 

(h) “S” of “CORREOS” omitted. 

(i) “2” omitted from lower left corner 

(j) No period after “CORREOS,” perf. 10. 

(k) No period after “TRANSITORIO,” perf. 10. 

(l) No period after “CENTAVOS,” perf. 10. 

(m) Triple impression. 

3c orange-brown. 

(a) Perf. 10x12. 

(b) Double impression. 

(c) Inverted “3” in left upper corner. 

(d) “C” omitted from “CORREOS.” 

(e) No period after “CENTAVOS.” 

(f) No period after “TRANSITORIO.” 

(g) Similar to (c) but perf. 10x12. 

25 


5c orange (large numerals.) 

(a) Double perforation. 

(b) Tete-beche pair. 

(c) No period after “CORREOS.” 

5c orange (smaller numerals.) 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Imperforate vertically. 

(c) Perf. 10x12. 

(d) Double perforation. 

(e) Double impression. 

(f) Pair, showing large and small figures. 

(g) No period after “CENTAVOS.” 

10c red and blue. 

(a) “1” omitted from right lower corner. 

(b) “10” omitted from right lower corner. 

(c) No period after “CORREOS.” 

(d) No period after “ TRAN SITORIO.” 

(e) Blue and black ruled lines at back. 



26 


Section B q 

STAMPS OF SPECIAL DESIGN. 

I. — The “Ejercito” Issue. 



The stamps of the above design were issued imme- 
diately after the “green seal” series and were primarily in- 
tended for revenue purposes. It will be noted that while 
the design consists of two distinct portions — the stamp 
proper and a coupon — there is nothing on either to indi- 
cate special usage for either postage or revenue. Con- 
sequently, when the stamps were ready, and pending the 
appearance of regular stamps to take the place of the 
crude type-set stamps, they were issued for postal use. 
At first they were used with and without coupon at the 
sweet will of the purchaser, but later specific instruc- 
tions were given that when the stamps were used for post- 
age the coupons should be removed. Later still, to make 
sure that these instructions were obeyed postal employes 
were required to sell the stamps in strips of ten only, 
with the coupons removed, when they were intended to 
be used for postage. 


2 7 


The stamps were printed by lithography in sheets of 
100 (ten horizontal rows of ten each) and as a careful 
examination will show, they were produced in a first 
class manner. Values above 1 peso were issued in this 
same design, but the use of these was restricted solely 
to fiscal purposes. All values are found overprinted 
“Nogales, Son,” “Hermosillo,” etc., in purple ink, but 
these were fiscals only and such as did postal duty either 
passed through the mails through carelessness or by 
the complaisance of an obliging employe. 

Evidently one original design served as the basis for 
the whole series. This consisted of both stamp and 
coupon, but with the numerals of value omitted from 
both. It is possible the 50c was drawn complete at first 
and the numerals removed so that it could be used in 
making the other denominations. But whether the orig- 
inal was blank or adapted from the 50c the stone or 
stones (it is quite likely there was but one) were laid 
down in the usual manner and the necessary numerals 
were transferred to each of the hundred impressions 
separately. This is easily proved by the varying posi- 
tions occupied by the numerals on the stamps and differ- 
ences in the shading around the numerals on the coupons 
where the background has been touched up. In the case 
of the 1 centavo the whole of “1 CENTAVO” was 
transferred to the stamps and “1 A VO” to the coupons. 
For the peso values a special drawing of the coupon was 
made but, as we have only the 1 peso itself to consider, 
we need hardly enter into such differences as affect 
the higher denominations. 

The sheets were cut close to the outer edges of the out- 
side rows of stamps so that there are no margins and 36 
of the stamps on each sheet have at least one straight 
edge. 

The catalogue describes these stamps as being “rou- 
letted 14x7,” a statement which is hardly accurate. A 
study of these roulettes reveals the interesting fact that 
there are at least four distinct varieties, viz : 

28 


(a) Rouletted 14 horizontally and vertically and be- 
tween stamp and coupon. 

(b) Rouletted 14 horizontally and vertically and 7 
between stamp and coupon. 

(c) Rouletted 14 horizontally, 7 vertically and 7 be- 
tween stamp and coupon. 

(d) Rouletted 14 horizontally, 7 vertically and 14 be- 
tween stamp and coupon. 

All values are known imperforate, but we believe 
none of these were ever used for postage. They are ap- 
parently printers’ waste and were, we think, not mar- 
keted until long after the stamps had become obsolete. 

CHECK LIST. 

Lithographed. Rouletted 14 and 7 as indicated. 

lc yellow green Roul. B. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 

2c violet, Roul. A. B. D. 

(a) With coupon 

(b) Imperforate. 

5c brown, Roul. A. B. C. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 

10c claret, Roul. B. C. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 

20c gray-green, Roul. A. C. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 

50c ultramarine, Roul. A. B. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 

1 peso, orange, Roul. D. 

(a) With coupon. 

(b) Imperforate. 


29 


II. — The Transitorio Issue. 



This issue, in the design shown above, was also pro- 
duced by lithography and, like the preceding series, was 
printed in sheets of 100 stamps arranged in 10 horizontal 
rows of ten each. The design, which is the same for all 
eight values, shows a Mexican eagle, perched on a 
branch of cactus and holding a snake in its beak and 
claws, above a six-sided horizontally lined tablet con- 
taining the numerals of value or, in the case of the high- 
est denomination, “$1.” The value is also shown across 
the bottom of the design in words on a solid ground of 
color. Above the eagle “MEXICO” is curved, while 
“CORREOS” reads upwards at the left and “TRAN- 
SITORIO” downwards at the right. One common die, 
showing the eagle and inscriptions, served for all eight 
values. The subsidiary dies were taken from this, the 
value added in words and figures and transfers then 
made to the stones used for printing. As is so often the 
case when lithography is the medium employed for 
stamp production the designs were not transferred to the 
stones one at a time, but in groups. In the case of this 
particular issue these groups consisted of ten transfers 
arranged in two vertical rows of five each as follows : 


in 

2 

3 1 

4 

5 I 

6 

7 I 

8 

9 I 

10 


Thus ten transfers from one of these groups would be 
necessary in making up each stone and there are ten 
minor types for each denomination. In most instances 

30 


these types differ in very minute details and we doubt 
whether it would always be possible to identify all of 
them. But enough of them can be distinguished to 
prove the accuracy of the above statement. 

Numerous flaws may be found, as is usual with lithog- 
raphic work, and all values exist in a number of pro- 
nounced shades. 

The stamps were rouletted 9y 2 horizontally and 14 
vertically, but an interesting variation is shown in the 
vertical separation, for one row always shows the 9 y 2 
gauge. Usually this appears between the ninth and 
tenth vertical rows, but occasionally it is found between 
the first and second, second and third, or eighth and 
ninth rows. A collection of corner blocks showing all 
possible variations would be of considerable interest. In 
rouletting some of the sheets of the 4c and 5c the slits 
were not always carried the full length of one of the 
vertical rows with the result that horizontal pairs imper- 
forate between may be found. 

There were no margins to the sheets of the stamps 
of this issue, the edges being trimmed quite close to 
the outside rows so that 36 stamps on each sheet show 
one or two straight edges. 

All values are known entirely imperforate, but we be- 
lieve none of these were regularly issued, but are simply 
“printers’ waste.” 

CHECK LIST. 

Lithographed. Rouletted 9 ^x 14 . 

lc deep blue. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9 y 2 between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

2 c green. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9 y 2 between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

4c blue violet. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

(b) Horizontal pair, imperf. between. 

(c) Imperforate. 


31 


5c gray-green. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9 y s between. 

(b) Horizontal pair, imperf. between. 

(c) Imperforate. 

10c red. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

20c brown. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9 y 2 between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

50c claret. 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

1 peso, bright violet 

(a) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

(b) Imperforate. 

III. — The Perforated “Transitorio” Stamp. 



The 5c value of the transitorio design was issued per- 
forated 12. This stamp was made by a Columbus, Ohio, 
concern apparently without direct authority from the 
Constitutionalist government. A number of them were 
shipped to Mexico as samples, never paid for, but issued 
to different post-offices for use during a temporary short- 
age of other stamps! While a close copy of the transi- 
torio design the whole has been re-drawn, as a compar- 
ison of the two types will quickly show, and it is, of 
course, at once recognized on account of the perfora- 
tion, which gauges 12. These stamps were printed by 
lithography in sheets of 100 and apparently the transfers 
were laid down on the stone in horizontal strips of ten — 
i. e., a row at a time. This stamp exists imperforate, but 
whether any were ever issued in Mexico in this state is 
more than doubtful. 


32 


CHECK LIST. 
Lithographed. Perf. 12. 

5c deep green. 

(a) Imperforate. 

IV. — The “Denver” Issue. 



The Transitorio stamps were eventually replaced with 
a series in the neat design shown above. The set is gen- 
erally known as the “Denver” issue on account of the 
fact that it was manufactured in Denver, Colorado. It 
will be noted that the Mexican eagle is retained as the 
chief feature of the design though for the first time the 
now familiar words “GOBIERNO CONSTITUCION- 
ALISTA” are a prominent feature. These stamps were 
very carefully produced by lithography and were issued in 
sheets of 100 in ten horizontal rows of ten. Whether 
they were printed in this form or in large sheets of 400 
we cannot say definitely, but all the sheets and part 
sheets we have examined show straight edges at right 
and bottom and there are marks in the margin, apparent- 
ly cutting guides, which seem to indicate that they were 
printed in larger sheets than 100. The stones, whether 
of 100 or 400 impressions, were laid down from vertical 
strips of ten transfers. There are thus, theoretically, ten 
minor types of each value, though we question whether 
the differences are sufficiently marked to make identifi- 
cation of all the types always a matter of certainty. 
There are no very marked shades in this issue. The lc, 
3c 5c and 10c denominations are known imperforate 
though we have no evidence to show that these are any- 
thing better than printers’ waste. 

33 


CHECK LIST. 
Lithographed. Perf. 12 . 

1c pale blue. 

(a) Imperforate. 

2c pale green. 

3c orange. 

(a) Imperforate. 

5c deep rose. 

(a) Imperforate. 

10c rose. 

(a) Imperforate. 

15c rose lilac. 

50c yellow. 

1 peso, violet. 

V. — The “Famous Men’’ Series. 



Following the Denver issue there were numerous sur- 
charges and the “coach-seal” set — all dealt with in other 
sections of this check list — so that chronologically we 
have to make a considerable jump in reaching the next 
issue which rightfully belongs to this section. This 
series, in the designs shown above, is usually known as 
the “famous men” set on account of the fact that four 
of the six values show portraits of Mexican celebrities. 
The central design for the lc is the Mexican eagle, on the 
2c is a statue of Cuauhtemoc, on the 3c is a portrait of 
Ignacio Zaragoza, on the 4c a portrait of Jose Maria 
Morelos, on the 5c a portrait of Francisco I. Madero, and 
on the 10c a portrait of Benito Juarez. The border is 
the same for all six denominations with the exception, of 
course, of the numerals of value and words at the base. 

34 


The stamps were printed by lithography — probably in 
Mexico City — in sheets of one hundred in the usual ar- 
rangement of ten horizontal rows of ten. They were ex- 
cellently produced and the little differences or peculiar- 
ities one generally associates with stamp lithographic 
work are so minute that it has proved quite a problem 
to arrive at a definite decision regarding the manner in 
which the stones were laid down. Judging from slight 
peculiarities on the 4c and 10c it seems probable that a 
horizontal row of ten transfers was made, this was dupli- 
cated and the double row of twenty impressions was 
then transferred to the stones five times. 

The sheets have wide margins and in the top one a 
letter followed by a sheet number is shown. The letters 
are A for the lc, B for the 2c, C for the 3c, D for the 4c, 
E for the 5c, and F for the 10c. These letters were drawn 
on the stones and are thus in the same colors as the 



stamps. On all values except the 10c the letter is shown 
above the seventh stamp of the top row, counting from 
the left, but on the 10c it is shown above the space be- 
tween the seventh and eighth stamps. The consecutive 
sheet numbers are in red for all values. 

The stamps were printed on a smooth, opaque, cream 
colored paper of good quality and were rouletted 15 with 
small, straight slits. All values are known entirely im- 
perforate and some of these imperf. stamps may be found 
twice printed, but we believe none were issued for use 
in this condition, but are simply printers’ waste. Sev- 
eral of the values are known imperforate horizontally or 

35 


vertically and these appear to be perfectly legitimate 
errors. Some sheets with the horizontal or vertical rows 
of roulette missing as well as some which were entirely 
imperforate were perforated 12 all round like the stamps 
of the succeeding series. These can be at once identi- 
fied by the fineness of the impressions and the character 
of the paper in those cases where none of the roulette 
cuts can be seen. 

CHECK LIST. 

Lithographed. Rouletted 15. 

lc violet. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

2c green. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

3c brown. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

4c carmine. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

(c) Vertical pair, imperf. between. 

(d) Imperf. horizontally. 

(e) Imperf. vertically. 

5c orange. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

(c) Imperf. horizontally. 

(d) Imperf. vertically. 

10c ultramarine. 

(a) Imperforate. 

(b) Perf. 12. 

(c) Vertical pair, imperf. between. 

(d) Horizontal pair, imperf. between. 

(e) Imperf. horizontally. 

(f) Imperf. vertically. 

VI. — The Perforated "Famous Men” set. 

The stamps of the last set perforated 12 probably 
represented a temporary expedient which was found so 
satisfactory that it was decided to discontinue the roulet- 
ting altogether in favor of regular perforation. The 

36 


same designs were employed and it is probable the same 
stones were used, though the impressions are so inferior 
compared with the rouletted series that this hardly 
seems possible. The work is coarse and the impressions 
are so smudgy that all the fine lines of the designs are 
lost. In any case the same original designs were used 
and the same method of arrangement and marginal num- 
bering was followed. A cheaper grade of paper was 
used and this probably accounts in large measure for the 
poorness of the printing. Two distinct plates were used 
for the 10c value, one showing the design the same size 
as the 10c of the rouletted series and the other having 
the design y 2 mm. narrower and 1mm. shorter. 

There are no errors of perforation in this series and, 
with the exception of the 10c, no prominent varieties of 
shade. 

CHECK LIST. 

Lithographed. Perf. 12 . 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c ultramarine (large design.) 

10c dull blue (small design.) 

VII. — The Engraved Stamps. 

Coincident with the appearance of the “famous men”' 
set perforated three higher denominations were issued. 



The 40c shows a map of Mexico, the 1 peso a view of 
the lighthouse at Vera Cruz, and the 5 pesos the General 


37 


Post Office in Mexico City. All three values were 
printed from line engraved plates which were manu- 
factured at the Government Printing Works in Mexico. 
The imprint of the official establishment is shown in minute 
letters under each design. All the values were printed in 
sheets of 100 and all are known imperforate though it is 



doubtful if any were issued at a post-office in this state. 
The 1 peso is known with center inverted and also im- 
perforate with inverted center. Some time after the ap- 
pearance of these three higher denominations a lc value 
was also issued printed from an engraved plate. This is 
similar in design to the lc of the “famous men” series, 
but being engraved instead of lithographed it varies con- 
siderably in details. The imprint “Mexico Oficina del 
Gobierno” is shown in tiny letters at the foot of each 
stamp. 

CHECK LIST. 

Engraved Perf. 12. 

lc mauve. 

40c slate. 

(a) Imperforate. 

1 peso brown and black. 

(a) Center inverted. 

(b) Imperforate. 

(c) Imperforate and center inverted 

5 pesos claret and ultramarine. 

(a) Imperforate. 


38 


VIII. — The Carranza Commemorative Stamps. 



On June 1, 1916, special stamps of the above design 
were issued to celebrate the arrival of Carranza in Mex- 
ico City on the previous 14th of April. It will be noted 
that a portrait of Carranza forms the chief feature of the 
design with “CONMEMORATIVA” curved at the top 
and the date “ABRIL 14 DE 1916” placed underneath. 
At the sides “S. P. MEXICANO” is shown while the 
value, “10c,” appears on very inconspicuous discs in the 
lower angles. This stamp was issued in two colors — 
blue and brown — and it was in use but a short time. It 
is said that 250,000 were printed in blue and 70,000 in 
brown and of these about 60,000 of each were cornered 
by interested officials. The stamps were printed in 
sheets of fifty arranged in five horizontal rows of ten 
each. Other colors than those of the issued stamps are 
said to exist, but these can only be considered as essays 
or color trials. Both varieties exist imperforate, but it 
is doubtful that any were ever on sale at a post-office 
in this condition. 


CHECK LIST. 
Engraved. Perf. 12. 

10c blue. 

(a) Imperforate. 

10c brown. 

(a) Imperforate 


39 


Section € a 


STAMPS WITH PRINTED SURCHARGES. 

I. — The “Victory of Torreon” Issue. 


Victoria do 

TORREON 
ABRIL 2-1914 


The first printed surcharge made by any of the revolu- 
tionary factions took the form illustrated above ; a few of 
the lc, 2c, 4c, 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c stamps of the Transi- 
torio issue, being so overprinted and issued at Juarez on 
April 4, 1914, in celebration of Carranza’s victory at 
Torreon two days previously. The stamps were in use on 
this one day only, when a general holiday was declared, 
and the numbers printed were exceedingly small. Of the 5c 
there were about 300, of the lc, 2c and 4c about 80, and 
of the higher denominations fewer still, the facial value 
of the entire lot being less than 50 pesos, so that it can 
hardly be described as a speculative issue made for profit 
at the expense of philatelists ! What few were left over 
were retained by the postmaster and sold some days 
later to a collector in El Paso for a comparatively small 
sum. The stamps were printed in horizontal rows of ten 
stamps at a time one of the stamps in each row show- 
ing an apostrophe after “de.” The “wide-roulette” vari- 
ety found in connection with the Transitorio issue ex- 
ists, of course, on all values and the 5c imperf. between 
is also known with this surcharge. Exceedingly clever 

40 


counterfeits of this overprint have been made so that the 
stamps should only be purchased from a dealer who can 
give an unqualified guarantee as to their authenticity. 

CHECK LIST. 

Transitorio Issue surcharged in black. Roul 9^x14. 

lc deep blue. 

(a) Variety “de\” \ 

(b) Horizontal pair roul. 9 x / z between. 

2c yellow green. 

(a) Variety “de\” 

(b) Horizontal pair, roul. 9% between. 

4c blue violet. 

(a) Variety “de’.” 

(b) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

5c gray green. 

(a) Variety “de’.” 

(b) Horizontal pair, roul. 9% between. 

(c) Horizontal pair, imperf. between. 

10c red. 

(a) Variety “de’.” 

(b) Horizontal pair roul. 9y 2 between. 

20c yellow brown. 

(a) Variety “de’.” 

(b) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

50c claret. 

(a) Variety “de\” 

(b) Horizontal pair roul. 9% between. 

II. — The "Gobierno Constitucionalista” Surcharge. 

The first printed surcharge for general use through- 
out Mexico took the form, of the words “GOBIERNO 
CONSTITUCIONALISTA” in two lines printed in 


black. On the values from lc to 20c inclusive this sur- 
charge was applied vertically, reading upwards, a $ sign 


GOBIERNO 

CONSTITUCIONALISTA 



being placed between the two lines of the overprint. On 
the higher denominations larger letters were used and 
between the two lines a small “v” was placed. As the 
50c, lp., and 5p. are long stamps there was ample room 
for the overprint to be applied horizontally. There were 
two settings of the type for the smaller sized surcharge 
and in both either fifty stamps were overprinted at a 
time or the setting was large enough to cover fifty 
stamps and was duplicated by electrotyping so that a 
full sheet of 100 could be surcharged at one operation. 
In the first setting the tenth stamp in each horizontal 
row has a “G” instead of “C” in “CONSTITUCIONAL- 
ISTA.” In the fiftieth and one hundredth stamps this is 
always very plain, but on some of the other rows the 
letter is badly formed and often difficult to dicipher. In 
the second setting, which appears only to have been ap- 
plied to certain values, the “GON” error only appears 
four times on each sheet — on stamps Nos. 32, 50, 82 and 
100 . 

The 15c value of the 1899 issue is known with this 
overprint, though whether any of these were used for 
postage or not, we cannot say for certain. The 2c and 
5c are known with double overprint and all values are 
known with inverted overprint this, in the case of the 
smaller stamps, reading downwards instead of up. 

In addition to the regular postage stamps the five 
postage due values also received this overprint. These 
surcharged postage due stamps were provisionally used 
as postage stamps as were also those with other over- 
prints — both printed and hand-stamped. Indeed, we be- 
lieve none of the surcharged due stamps were ever used 
in the collection of deficient postage, but always for pre- 
paying postage and their logical place is, therefore, 
among the regular postal issues. We shall follow this 
arrangement in our check list of the various surcharged 
issues placing the postage dues after the ordinary pos- 
tage stamps. 


42 


CHECK LIST. 

Regular stamps of Mexico surcharged in black. Perf. 14. 

On issue of 1899. 

15c lavender and claret. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

On issue of 1910. 

lc dull violet. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(' b ) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

(d) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

2c green. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

(d) Double surcharge. 

(e) Variety (a) double. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

4c carmine. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

5c orange. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

(d) Double surcharge. 

(e) Variety (a) double. 

(f) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

15c gray -blue and claret. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

(b) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Variety (a) inverted. 

(d) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

60c red-brown and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

43 


1 peso blue and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

Postage due stamps of Mexico surcharged in black, 
lc blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

2c blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

4c blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

5c blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

10c blue. 

(a) “GON” for “CON.” 

III. — The Villa “G. C. M.” Monogram. 



The surcharge described in the last chapter was cur- 
rent in those parts of Mexico under Carranza influence 
while in the territory controlled by Villa a monogram 
form of the letters “G. C. M.” was used as shown in the 
above illustration. With the exception of the 2c, 3c 
and 5c denominations all values with this overprint are 
quite scarce in used condition. The list of varieties is 
a lengthy one and in our opinion most of the errors as 
well as the normally overprinted values above 20c are 
posthumous varieties made to the order of the “phi- 
latelic” faction now in control of postal affairs in Mex- 
ico. Many of them find their way to the United States 
market via a Mexican dealer who is also a printer — and 
printing and professional philately always seem to us 
a poor combination ! While most of these varieties are 
perfectly genuine, insofar as they were made to the 
order of duly authorized postal officials and printed from 
the proper type and may have been good for postage 

44 


even though none were used, they hardly seem to have 
the same philatelic interest and status as the hand- 
stamped surcharges to which we shall make reference 
later on. 

All values are known surcharged on the stamps which 
had already been overprinted with the words “GOB- 
IERNO $ CONSTITUTION ALISTA” and while it is 
stated that these were issued under Villa government 
during that cheerful bandit’s short stay in Mexico City 
we are extremely sceptical that any were ever on sale at 
a post-office there at that time or were used for postal 
purposes. The “GON” variety can, of course, be found 
in connection with the lc to 20c denominations of these. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on regular stamps of 1899-1903. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

4c carmine. 

5c dark blue. * 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c lavender and claret. 

20c rose and blue. 

50c carmine and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

Surcharged on the regular stamps of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

4c carmine. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

5c orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

45 


(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

50c red-brown and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

1 peso blue and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted with the words 
“GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA.” 

lc violet. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

2c green. 

3c orange brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50c red- brown and black. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

1 peso, blue and black. 

5 pesos, carmine and black. 

Surcharged on the “Transitorio” issue, 
lc deep blue. 

2c yellow-green. 

4c blue-violet. 

5c gray-green. 

10c red. 

20c yellow-brown. 

50c claret. 

1 peso violet. 

Surcharged on the Defcver Issue. 

lc pale blue. 


46 


2c pale green. 

3'c orange. 

5c deep rose. 

10c rose. 

15c rose lilac. 

50c yellow. 

1 peso, violet. 

Surcharged on the Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

2c blue 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

4c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

5c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

10c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

IV. — The Carranza “G. C. M.” Monogram. 



The artistic effect of the Villa monogram overprint 
evidently led Carranza’s Postmaster-General to dis- 
pense with the two line surcharge in favor of the neat 
little monogram illustrated above. This type was cer- 
tainly in more general use than the other and all values 
up to and including the 1 peso are easily obtained in 
used condition. Like their Villa prototype there are 
numerous errors and fancy varieties to which the re- 
marks made in our last chapter equally well apply. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on the regular stamps of 1.899-1903. 

5c orange. 

15c lavender and claret. 


4 7 


Surcharged on the regular stamps of 1910. 
le violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

(c) Double surcharge. 

*2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

(c) Double surcharge. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

4c carmine. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

5c orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Double surcharge; one inverted. 

50c red-brown and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

1 peso, blue and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

5 pesos, carmine and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted with the words 
“G0BIERN0 CONSTITUCIONALISTA.” 

lc violet. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

2c green. 


48 


(a) Monogram inverted. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

4c earmine. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

5c orange. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

(b) Monogram double. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

56c red-brown and black. 

1 peso, blue and black. 

5 pesos, carmine and black. 

Surcharged on the Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

2c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

4c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

5c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

16c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

V. — The “G. P. de M ” Overprint. 



When the “famous men” and view stamps made their 
appearance it was presumed that for a time at least 
Mexico would have a set of some permanence. Indeed, 
it seems to have been the intention of the Carranza 


49 


government to withdraw all the previous surcharged 
stamps then in circulation and sell these, together with 
the stock of federal unsurcharged stamps, to the highest 
bidder. However, other counsels prevailed and the re- 
mainders were withdrawn from sale and another orgy 
of surcharging began. It was decided to use up all old 
stock by overprinting them with the letters “G. P. de 
M.” in a small lathe-work frame as illustrated above. 
On the values from lc to 20c inclusive this overprint is 
placed vertically while on the higher denominations it 
is placed horizontally. On the smaller stamps this over- 
print usually reads upwards though there are exceptions 
as shown in our check list. In addition to the colors 
which may be termed normal there are many others 
and while some of these may have been used for postage 
others are best described as essays or color trials 
evidently made solely for philatelic purposes. Much 
speculation has been indulged in by favored officials 
and many varieties were never sold to the public at all 
or only in sufficient quantities to be used on mail actual- 
ly handed in at a post-office. 

CHECK LIST. 

In the following check list the overprint reads vertically upwards 
on the smaller stamps unless stated otherwise. 

Surcharged on the issue of 1899. 

15 c lavender and claret (blue.) 

Surcharged on issue of 1910. 

lc violet (red.) 

(a) Surcharge in blue. 

2c green (red.) 

3 c orange-brown (blue.) 

(a) Surcharge reads downwards. 

4 c carmine (blue) downwards. 

5 c orange (blue) downwards. 

(a) iSurcharged in black. 

10c blue and orange (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

15 c gray-blue and claret (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

20c red and blue (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 


50 


50 c red- brown and black (red.) 

1 peso, blue and black (red.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (red.) 

Surcharged on “Transitorio” issue. 

10c red (blue) downwards. 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted with 
“GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA.” 
lc violet (red.) 

2c green (red.) 

3 c orange-brown (blue.) 

4 c carmine (blue.) 

5 c orange (blue.) 

(a) Surcharge reads downwards. 

10c blue and orange (red.) 

15 c gray -blue and claret (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

(b) Surcharged in green. 

20c red and blue (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

50 c red-brown and black (red.) 

1 peso, blue and black (red.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (red.) 

(NOTE: — The lower values with above overprints probably all 
exist with the variety “GON” for “CON” in “CONSTITUCIONAL- 
ISTA.”) 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted with the 
Villa Monogram “G. C. M.” 

On issue of 1899-1903. 

5 c dark blue (blue.) 

5 c orange (blue.) 

On issue of 1910. 

2c green (red.) 

4 c carmine (blue) downwards. 

5c orange (blue) downwards. 

(a) Monogram inverted. 

10c blue and orange (red.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (black.) 

20c red and blue (black.) 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted “GOBIERNO 
CONSTITUCIONALISTA” and Villa monogram “G. C. M.” 

10c blue and orange (red.) 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted with the 
Carranza monogram “G. C. M.” 

On issue of 1903. 

5 c arange (blue.) 

51 


On issue of 1910. 

4c carmine (blue) downwards, 
lc violet (red.) 

2c green (red.) 

3c orange-brown (blue.) 

(a) With monogram double. 

4c carmine (blue) downwards. 

5c orange (blue.) 

(a) Surcharge reads downwards. 

(b) Monogram inverted. 

10c blue and orange (red.) 

15c gray-blue and claret (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

(b) Monogram double. 

20c red and blue (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in red. 

(b) Monogram double. 

(c) Monogram inverted. 

50c red-brown and black (red.) 

1 peso, blue and black (red.) 

Surcharged on stamps already overprinted “GOBIERNO CONSTI- 
TUCIONALISTA” and Carranza monogram “G. C. M.” 

On issue of 1910. 

3c orange brown (blue.) 

10c blue and orange (red.) 

20c red and blue (black.) 

Surcharged on “Denver” Issue, 
lc pale blue (blue.) 

2c pale green (blue.) 

3c orange (blue.) 

5c deep rose (blue.) , 

10c rose (blue.) 

15c rose lilac (blue.) 

50c yellow (blue.) 

1 peso violet (blue.) 

VI. — Surcharged With New Values. 

The lc and 2c values of the series described in our 
last chapter are quite scarce and were evidently issued 
in very limited quantities. The reason for this was that 
it was decided to utilize these denominations in pro- 
ducing higher values one of which, the 60c, was needed 
in the revised list of postal charges. The lc was also 
surcharged 5c and 10c not so much on account of the 
fact that there was a shortage of these values but be- 

52 


cause the new engraved lc more than sufficed for the 
limited use such a low denomination could have. The 
5c was surcharged 20c and when the rate of letter post- 
age was raised to 25c it was surcharged with this new 
denomination. All sorts of fancy colors are known in 
connection with some values, but these are probably at 
best essays or color trials. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged “G. P. de M.” and new values on stamps of 1910 . 

5c on lc violet (black.) 

(a) Surcharge vertical. 

10 c on lc violet (black.) 

10 c on lc violet (blue.) 

20c on 5c orange (black.) 

25c on 5c orange (green.) 

60c on 2 c green (red.) 

(a) Surcharged in blue. 

(b) Surcharged in black. 

Surcharged “G. P. de M.” and new values on stamps already over- 
printed “GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA.” 

5c on lc violet (black.) 

25c on 5c orange (green.) 

60c on 2 c green (red.) 

Surcharged “G. P de M.” and new value on stamps already over- 
printed with Villa monogram “G. C. M.” 

25c on 5c orange (green.) 

Surcharged “G. P. de M.” and new values on stamps already Over- 
printed with the Carranza monogram “G. C. M.” 

5c on lc violet (black.) 

10 c on lc violet (black.) 

10 c on lc violet (blue.) 

25c on 5c orange (green.) 

60c on 2 c green (red.) 

Surcharged “G. P. de M.” and new values on Denver issue. 

60c on lc pale blue (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in blue. 

(b) Surcharged in green. 

60c on 2 c pale green (black.) 

(a) Surcharged in blue. 

(b) Surcharged in green. 

(c) Surcharged in red. , 


53 


Surcharged “G. P. deM.” and new values on Postage Due stamps. 
5c on lc blue (black.) 

10c on 2c blue (violet.) 

20c on 4c blue (brown.) 

25c on 5c blue (green.) 

60c on 10c blue (red.) 

1 peso on lc blue (red.) 

1 peso on 2c blue (red.) 

1 peso on 4c blue (red.) 

1 peso on 5c blue (red.) 

1 peso on 100 blue (red.) 

$2.50 on lc blue (black.) 

$2.50 on 2c blue (black.) 

$2.50 on 4c blue (black.) 

$2.50 on 5c blue (black.) 

$2.50 on 10c blue (red.) 

VII. — The Guanajuato Surcharge. 



< 

H 

0) 

d 

z 

z 

0 

O 

u 


During the period the hand-stamped surcharges were 
used in so many localities a printed surcharge was ap- 
plied to certain of the federal stamps at Guanajuato and 
these were used in that city for a short time. This 
overprint, as shown in the accompanying illustration, 
consists of the abbreviated words “GNO. CONST A” 
in large thin sans-serif capitals applied vertically read- 
ing upwards. These stamps are all scarce. 

CHECK LIST. 

Stamps of 19 io overprinted in black. 

1* violet. 

2« green. 

3c orange-brown. 

5c orange. 

15« gray-blue and claret. 


54 


VIII. — The Tuxtla Surcharge. 



Another locally printed overprint of the same period 
was used in the small town of Tuxtla, in the State of 
Vera Cruz. This consists of the words “GOBIERNO 
CONST.” in Roman capitals in two lines applied ver- 
tically reading upwards. On the lc and 3c values the 
surcharge is in red while on the others it is in violet. 
Little is known concerning this issue beyond the facts 
of its undoubted validity and scarcity. 

CHECK LIST. 

Stamps of 1910 overprinted in red or violet. 

1« violet. 

2c green. 

3 c orange-brown. 

4 c carmine. 

5c orange. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 



55 


Section Ik 

THE HANDSTAMPED SURCHARGES. 

I.— -The “G. C. M ” Issue. 

We now reach what we have already stated are the 
most intricate and perplexing of all the revolutionary 
stamps, i. e., those overprinted by hand. In the follow- 
ing chapters we have only described such overprints as 
we have actually seen and which we know to be bona- 
fide. Undoubtedly others exist and it is possible that in 
the future this list will have to be greatly extended. As 
chronological order is not feasible, and an arrangement 
by States and types has many disadvantages, we have 
decided on an alphabetical arrangement. 



We award first place, however, to the large “G. C. M” 
overprint. This was more generally used over all parts 
of Mexico than any other and was in use for a longer 
period than any of the other types. The letters “G C M” 
are simply the initials of “Gobierno Constitucionalista 
Mexicano ,, (Constitutional Government of Mexico.) 
There are several types of this overprint, some of which 
can be definitely assigned to certain localities, but as the 
differences are small and only of interest to an extreme 
specialist we have considered it inadvisable to differ- 
entiate between them. Various colors are known — 


56 


black, purple, green, magenta, etc. — the purple ones hav- 
ing been most generally used with one exception. This 
exception is the lc with magenta overprint which ap- 
pears to have been far more generally used than the lc 
in any other color. The genuine black overprinted 
stamps were issued at Juarez only, when this type of over- 
print first had currency. The color varies from a pur- 
plish-black to a real jet black on all except the two high- 
est values. These two denominations were only issued 
with the purplish-black overprint and of the 5 pesos we 
have very good reason to believe that only five copies 
exist. Others have been made since in a deep black — ap- 
parently by some official with philatelic proclivities who 
had access to the original handstamp. 

Most of these “G C M” surcharges were applied to 
the federal stamps of 1910; in a few instances stamps of 
1899-1903 were also utilized ; while some of the “tran- 
sitory” issue and the 5c “ejercito” series were also sur- 
charged. The latter seems to be a perfectly legitimate 
variety of some scarcity, but the “transitorio” varieties 
were evidently overprinted by some official who allowed 
his zeal to outrun his discretion or who was of such a 
literal turn of mind that he read the official instructions 
as meaning that all stamps were to be overprinted. The 
overprints on the stamps with printed surcharges are, 
in our opinion, entirely speculative, but as they un- 
doubtedly exist we have included them in our check list. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged in Violet or Purple. 

A. — On issue of 1899-1903. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

5 c orange. 

B. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

(b) Pair; one without surcharge. 

2c green. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

57 


3e orange-brown. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

4« carmine. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

5c orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

(c) Surcharge sideways, 
lie blue and orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

Ifc5e gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

50c red-brown and black. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

1 peso blue and black. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

C. — On “Transitorio” issue. 

le deep blue. 

2c yellow green. 

4c blue violet. 

6c gray-green. 

10c red. 

20c yellow brown. 

60c claret. 

1 peso bright violet. 

D. — On “Ejerrito” issue. 

flt brown. 

(a) With coupon. 

B.— On issue with printed “GOBIERNO $ CONSTITUCIONALISTA" 

Surcharge. 

he violet. 

3c orange brown. 

5c orange. 

F. — On issue with printed Carranza “G. C. M.” monogram. 

50e red-brown and black. 


58 


G. — On Postage Due Stamps. 


lc blue. 

2c blue. 

(a) Surcharge double. 

4c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 
5c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 
10c blue. 


Surcharged in Black, Gray-black, or Purplish-black. 
A. — On Issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

(c) Surcharge in blue-black. 

2c green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge in blue-black. 

3c orange-brown. 

(a) Surcharge in blue-black. 

4c carmine. 

(a) Surcharge double. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

(c) Surcharge in blue-black. 

5c orange. 

(a) Surcharge in blue-black. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray -blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Surcharge in blue-black. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 


B. — On “Transitorio” issue. 

lc deep blue. 

2c yellow-green. 

4c blue-violet. 

5c gray -green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

10c red. 

20c yellow-brown. 

50c claret. 

1 peso bright violet. 


59 


C. — On Postage Due stamps. 


4 c blue. 

(a) Surcharge in blue -black. 

5 c blue. 

Surcharged in Green. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

1 peso blue and black. 

B. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

(c) Vertical pair; one in violet. 

2c green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. % 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

3 c orange-brown. 

4 c carmine. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

5 c orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

(b) Horizontal pair; one in violet. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Surcharge double. 

(b) Vertical pair; one in violet. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

C. — On “Transitorio” issue. 

lc deep blue. 

D. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

4 c blue. 

5 c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

10c blue. 


60 


Surcharged in Magenta. 

A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

2c green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

3 c orange-brown. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Pair; one without surcharge. 

4 c carmine. 

5 c orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

10c blue and orange. 

15 c gray -blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

B. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

4 c blue. 

5 c blue. 

10c blue. 

Surcharged in Pink or Red. 
A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Surcharge in dull brown-red. 

2c green. 

(a) Surcharge in dull brown-red. 

3 c orange- brown. 

4 c carmine. 

5 c orange. 

(a) Surcharge in dull brown -red. 

10c blue and orange. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

1 peso, blue and black. 

5 pesos, carmine and black. 

61 


B. — On Postage Due Stamps. 


lc blue. 

2 c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

II. — The Acambaro Issue. 


CC 


Acambaro is a small town, of some 6,000 population, 
situated at the extreme south of the State of Guanajuato. 
The special overprint used here was a large “G C,” as 
illustrated, the letters representing “Gobierno Consti- 
tucionalista.” All appear to be rare, especially in used 
condition. The overprint is in purple. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910 . 

2 c green. 

5c orange. 

Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2 c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10 c blue. 

III. — The “Army in Transit” stamps. 


E. C. 

Transitorio 


This type (see illustration), which must not be con- 
fused with the Culiacan overprint described later, is said 
to have been used entirely by the soldiers of Carranza's 

62 


army. The letters “E C” stand for “Ejercito Consti- 
tucionalista” and the whole overprint means “Constitu- 
tional Army in Transit.” Little is known concerning 
this surcharge and we have only seen it on the 5c stamp 
of 1910. This overprint is in purple. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on 1910 issue. 

5 c orange. 

IV. — The Aguascalientes Issue. 

|A.M. # 

V,o^ 

Aguascalientes (meaning literally “hot waters”) is the 
capital of the State of the same name and is famed for 
its warm springs. It has a population of a little over 
30,000. The surcharge used here is of some rarity and 
consists of the letters “A M” within a circle composed 
of the words “GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONAL- 
ISTA.” The central letters stand for “Aguascalientes, 
Mexico.” In the first type these two letters are in some- 
what fancy capitals. Another type is known with the 
“A M.” in plain sans-serif capitals and in a different posi- 
tion in relation to the surrounding words. We have 
never seen used copies of this type and it is, therefore, 
listed with reserve. Both types of surcharge are in pur- 
ple or violet. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on 1910 issue. 

A. — Letters “A. M.” in fancy capitals. 

3 c orange-brown. 

5 c orange. 

10 c blue and orange. 

B. — Letters “A. M.” in sans-serif capitals. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

20 c red and blue. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

1 peso, blue and black. 


63 


V. — The Chihuahua issue. 


Gobierno Consti tucionalista 


Chihuahua is the largest State of Mexico and is bound- 
ed on the north by New Mexico and on the east by 
Texas and Coahuila. Its chief town bears the same 
name and is situated on the Mexican Central Railway 
225 miles south of El Paso. It is famed for its magnifi- 
cent cathedral and its mint. The population of the 
town is about 35,000, and of the state as a whole nearly 
400,000. The postmaster here was evidently of an eco- 
nomical turn of mind, for he ordered an overprint con- 
sisting of the words “Gobierno Constitucionalista” of 
such size that applied horizontally it covered four or- 
dinary or three large stamps at once. Unfortunately, 
however, this labor saving method was not always 
followed for quite a number of the stamps were over- 
printed diagonally, in which position only two stamps 
could be surcharged at once. Some of the stamps were 
surcharged in purple, varying from a true purple to a 
blackish-purple, and others were overprinted in pink or 
magenta. These stamps were in general use in Chihuahua 
state and also, occasionally, in points outside. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged in Purple; (a) Horizontally and (b) Diagonally. 

A. — on issue of 1910. 

lc violet (a) (b.) 

2c green (a) (b.) 

3 c orange-brown (a) (b.) 

4 c carmine (a) (b.) 

(a) Vertical surcharge. 

5 c orange (a) (b.) 

10c blue and orange (a) (b.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (a) (b.) 

20c red and blue (a) (b.) 

50 c red-brown and black (a) (b.) 

1 peso, blue and black (a) (b.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (a) (b.) 

64 


B. — Surcharged on Denver issue. 

3c orange (b.) 

5c deep rose (b.) 

C. — Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue (b.) 

2c blue (b.) 

4c blue (a) (b.) 

5c blue (b.) 

10c blue (b.) 

Surcharged in Pink or Magenta; (a) Horizontally and 
(b) Diagonally. 

A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet (a) (b.) 

2c green (a) (b.) 

3c orange-brown (a) (b.) 

4c carmine (a.) 

5c orange (a) (b.) 

10c blue and orange (a.) 

15c gray -blue and claret (a.) 

20c red and blue (a) (b.) 

50c red-brown and black (a) (b.) 

1 peso, blue and black (b.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (b.) 

B. — On Denver issue. 

lc pale blue (a) (b.) 

2c light green (b.) 

3c orange (b.) 

5c deep rose (b.) 

(a) Vertical surcharge. 

10c rose (b.) 

15e rose lilac (b.) 

50c yellow (b.) 

1 peso, bright violet (b.) 

C. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue (a) (b.) 

2c blue (a) (b.) 

4c blue (a) (b.) 

5c blue (a) (b.) 

10c blue (a) (b.) 


65 


VI. — The Colima Issue. 


E.C. 

TRARSITORIO 


Colima is the capital of the small State of the same 
name and has a population of about 20,000. The stamps 
used here were surcharged “E C-TRANSITORIO” as 
shown above. It has been asserted that this is another 
overprint of the “Army in Transit” series, but all we 
have seen were undoubtedly used in Colima, and if for 
no other reason than to prevent confusion we think it 
best to describe them under this name. The overprint 
is in magenta on the 15c and in purple on the other values. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10 c blue and orange. 

15c gray -blue and claret. 

VII. — The Culiacan Issue. 


E. C. 

Transito 

rio. 


Culiacan is the capital of the state of Sinaloa and has 
a population of about 15,000. It is one of the oldest 
settlements of the New World, dating from 1531, and is 
now an episcopal see. The overprint used here consists 
of “E C — Transitorio” in type-written characters like the 

66 


Army in Transit surcharge but with the important differ- 
ence that the last word is in two lines. This overprint 
was undoubtedly used in other places in Sinaloa in ad- 
dition to Culiacan. The surcharge is in purple, except 
where noted otherwise. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on stamps of 1899 - 1903 . 

5c orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

10 c blue and orange. 

15c lavender and claret. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge in blue -black. 

2 c green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge in blue-black. 

3c orange -brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge in blue-black. 

10 c blue and orange. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge in red. 

20 c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso, blue and black. 

5 pesos, carmine and black. 

Surcharged on Denver issue. 

lc pale blue. 

Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2 c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

4c blue. 

(a) Surcharge double. 

5c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

10 c blue. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

67 


VIII. — The Durango issue. 



Durango is the capital of the state of the same name 
and has a population of about 32,000. It is noted for 
its fine cathedral and government assay office. For a 
short time stamps surcharged “GCM” and “DUR- 
ANGO” as shown above were used here, but, judging 
from their rarity the issue must have been a very limited 
one. The two overprints were made with separate hand- 
stamps so that their relative position varies greatly. 
Specimens of all values are known with the “GCM” 
omitted, but we are inclined to think that none of these 
were ever issued. The surcharge is always in magenta. 

We have seen two values of the Juarez issue addition- 
ally surcharged with the Durango overprint. These were 
evidently taken to Durango by some individual from 
Juarez and the special Durango overprint was applied 
before they could be used, or after they had been placed 
on letters, to legitimatize them locally. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on issue of 1899. 

20c rose and dark blue. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c orange -brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso, blue and black. 


68 


IX.— The “E. S ” Surcharge. 



The large monogram “E. S.” surcharge as illustrated 
above was used in the State of Sonora, the letters being 
an abbreviation for “Estado Sonora.” It has been as- 
serted that this type was a private speculation, and that 
no stamps with this overprint were ever on sale at a 
post-office. We doubt whether there is much truth in 
this assertion, for stamps with this surcharge were not 
only used over a fairly long period, but were used on 
the mail of leading merchants and bankers in the State — 
people who would hardly have been likely to use stamps 
which were not officially authenticated. Possibly some 
of the Denver, Transitorio and 1899 stamps were over- 
printed by some official, who had access to the hand- 
stamp, for philatelic purposes. This overprint is always 
in violet or purple. 

CHECK LIST. 

A. — Surcharged on issue of 1899-1903. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

3c orange-brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c lavender and claret. 

20c rose and blue. 

50c rose and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

B. — Surcharged on issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Surcharge sideways. 

69 


2c green. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

3c orange-brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Surcharge in blue-black. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

C. — Surcharged on “Ejercito” issue, 
lc yellow-green. 

5c brown. 

D. — Surcharged on “Transitorio” issue, 
le deep blue. 

2c yellow -green. 

4c blue-violet. 

5c gray -green. 

(a) Pair; imperf. between. 

10c red. 

20c yellow-brown. 

50c claret. 

1 peso violet. 

E. — Surcharged on Perforated “Transitorio” stamp. 
5c green. 

F. — Surcharged on Denver issue. 

le pale blue. 

2c light green. 

3c orange. 

5c deep rose. 

10c rose. 

15c rose -lilac. 

50c yellow. 

1 peso violet. 

G. — Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

2c blue. 

(a) Surcharge sideways. 

4e blue. 

5c blue. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

10c blue. 


70 


X. — The Guanajuato overprints. 



1 

c3 

0 

3 


p 


cc 

u 

QJ 

'iH 

-M 

*r- 

r— I 

cj 

XI 

0 

a 

0 

P 

O 

0 

— 0 

•• H 



Type I 


Type II 


Guanajuato is the capital of the State of the same 
name and has a population of about 50,000. Its chief 
building is the Alhondigade Granaditas, built for a com- 
mercial exchange, but now used as a prison. Guanajuato 
is the center of one of the richest mining districts in 
Mexico and is noted for its pottery. Two distinct types 
of overprint were used here, the first consisting of the 
words “Gobierno Constitucionalista” in three lines ap- 
plied vertically to the 5c of 1910. This was in purple. 
The second, and more generally met with type, has the 
same words, but in two lines, and the first word is in 
capital letters. This is usually applied diagonally and is 
always in black. 


CHECK LIST. 
Surcharged on issue of 1910. 
Type I. — In purple. 

5c orange. 

Type II. — in black. 

lc violet. 

2 c green. 

3c orange-brown. 

5c orange. 


71 


XI. — The Guaymas overprint. 


EC 


Guaymas is a harbor and sea-port on the Gulf of Cal- 
ifornia, and is the terminus of the Sonora railway. It has 
a population of about 6,000. The local overprint applied 
here was issued at a much later date than most of the 
others and its authenticity is still open to question. The 
overprint is crude in the extreme and consists of the let- 
ters “EC” which were applied to two values of the 
“coach-seal” issue in purple. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on “Coach-seal” issue. 

20c orange, blue and black. 

20c yellow, green and black. 

50c green, orange and black. 


XII. — The Juarez issue. 



The small town of Juarez, or Ciudad Juarez as it is 
generally known in Mexico, is in the State of Chihuahua, 
on the right bank of the Rio Grande opposite El Paso. 
It has a normal population of about 7,000. It was found- 
ed in 1585 as a missionary station, and is now an im- 
portant place for transit trade. The local surcharge for 

72 


which this town is famed is one of the most distinctive 
of all the hand-stamped overprints. It consists of a large 
double-lined circle having the words “GOBIERNO 
CONSTITUCIONALISTA” placed between the rings. 
The series is a lengthy and troublesome one, for not only 
were all sorts of colors used, singly and in combination, 
but some of the stamps were overprinted in blocks of 
four, others in pairs, and others, in singles ! While there 
was certainly no necessity for so much variety, neither 
can the stamps be stigmatised as speculative, for the 
facial value of the whole supply only amounted to a few 
hundred pesos Mexican. Probably the postmaster exer- 
cised his ingenuity in this manner to make an otherwise 
tedious task enjoyable ! 

In the following check list (a) means that the sur- 
charge covers one stamp ; (b) that it is applied to a pair, 
and (c) that the overprint covers a block of four. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged in Black. 

A.— On issue of 1910. 

lc violet (b) (c.) 

3c orange-brown (b) (c.) 

4c carmine (b) (c.) 

5c orange (b) (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

15c gray-blue and claret (b) (c.) 

20c red and blue (b) (c.) 

B. — On Postage Due stamps. 

4c blue (b) (c.) 

Surcharged in Green on issue of 1910. 

lc violet (b) (c.) 

2c green (b) (c.) 

3c orange-brown (c.) 

4c carmine (a) (b) (c.) 

(a) Double surcharge (b.) 

5c orange (b) (c.) 

(a) Double surcharge (b.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

15c gray-blue and claret (b) (c.) 

(a) Double surcharge (b) (c.) 

20c red and blue (b) (c.) 

50c red-brown and black (b.) 

73 


Surcharged in Red. 

A. — On issue of 1910, 

le violet (b) (c.) 

2c green (b) (c.) 

4c carmine (b) (c.) 

5c orange (b) (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

15c gray -blue and claret (c.) 

20c red and blue (c.) 

50c red-brown and black (a.) 

1 peso, blue and black (a.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (a.) 

B. — On Postage Due stampr. 

4c blue (b.) 

Surcharged in Gold. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

5 pesos, carmine and black (a.) 

B. — On issue of igio. 

lc violet (b) (c.) 

2c green (b) (c.) 

3c orange-brown (c.) 

4c carmine (b) (c.) 

5c orange (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

15c gray-blue and claret (b) (c.) 

20c red and blue (b) (c.) 

50c red-brown and black (a.) 

1 peso, blue and black (a.) 

5 pesos, carmine and black (a.) 

Surcharged in Purple. 

A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet (c.) 

2c green (c.) 

3c orange -brown (c.) 

4c carmine (c.) 

5c orange (b) (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

16c gray-blue and claret (b) (c.) 

20c red and blue (c.) 

50c red-brown and black (b) (c.) 

1 peso, blue and black (b) (c.) 

B. — On Postage Due stamps, 

4c blue (c.) 

Surcharged in Blue on issue of 1910 
le violet (c.) 

4c carmine (b) (c.) 


74 


5 c orange (c.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (c.) 

20c red and blue (c.) 

50 c red-brown and black (b.) 

Surcharged in Black and Green on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (b) (c.) 

4 c carmine (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (b.) 

Surcharged in Black and Red on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b.) 

Surcharged in Black and Gold on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (c.) 

4 c carmine (b) (c.) 

5 c orange (b.) 

10c blue and orange (b.) 

20c red and blue (b.) 

Surcharged in Green and Red on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (b.) 

20c red and blue (b.) 

Surcharged in Green and Gold on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (c.) 

2c green (c.) 

5 c orange (b.) 

1 peso, blue and black (a.) 

Surcharged in Green and Purple on issue of 1910. 
5 c orange (b) (c.) 

10c blue and orange (c.) 

Surcharged in Red and Gold on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (b) (c.) 

2c green (b) (c.) 

5 c orange (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 

20c red and blue (c.) 

Surcharged in Red and Purple on issue of 1910. 

4 c carmine (c.) 

Surcharged in Gold and Purple on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (c.) 

5 c orange (c.) 

10c blue and orange (c.) 

Surcharged in Gold and Blue on issue of 1910. 
lc violet (c.) 

5 c orange (c.) 

20c red and blue (c.) 

Surcharged in Purple and Blue on issue of 1910. 
4 c carmine (c.) 

10c blue and orange (b) (c.) 


75 


XIII. — The Leon Overprints. 


Gob . 
Const 


Leon is an important town in the State of Guanajuato, 
with a population of about 65,000. The first type of 
overprint used here consists of the abbreviated words 
“Gob-Const.” in two lines, as illustrated, there being a 
thick period or dash after the first word. 

Another and very similar type, is without this period, 
and has the “s” of “Const” inverted. This is ascribed 
to Salamanca, but as its place of origin is still a matter 
of doubt, it is best included here. 


Gob. 

Cons. 


A third type, undoubtedly used from Leon, shows the 
words “Gob. Cons.” in small letters in two lines as il- 
lustrated. 

CHECK LIST. 

Type I. — Issue of 1910, surcharged horizontally in purple, 
lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c orange -brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Vertical surcharge. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

Type I. — Issue of 1910, surcharged in Magenta, 
lc violet (vertical.) 

2c green (vertical.) 

5c orange (vertical.) 


76 


5 c orange (diagonal.) 

10c blue and orange (diagonal.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (vertical.) 

15 c gray-blue and claret (horizontal.) 

Type II. — Surcharged on issue of 1910 in Blue-black, 
lc violet. 

2c green. 

3 c orange-brown. 

4 c carmine. 

5 c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

Type III. — Surcharged on issue of 1910 in black, 
lc violet. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

2c green. 

3 c orange-brown. 

5 c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

Type III. — Surcharged on Postage Due stamps in black, 
lc blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

2c blue. 

XIV. — The Lower California Surcharge. 



The surcharge shown above, seems only to have been 
used in La Paz, in the State of Lower California, ap- 
parently at a time when there was a shortage of the 
regular overprinted stamps for a crude attempt was 
made at copying the “GOBIERNO $ CONSTITU- 
CIONALISTA” overprint. Indeed, as our illustration 
shows, these two words were used with the $ sign be- 

77 


tween them, though the surcharge was made by setting 
up ordinary printers’ type. Some of the stamps were 
overprinted vertically and some diagonally, while a 
second setting of the type was also used with the two 
lines of the overprint close together and without the $ 
mark. Though these stamps were surcharged by hand, 
one at a time, we believe the stamps used for the pur- 
pose were made by the rough expedient of setting 
ordinary printers’ type, is some sort of a small holder. 
Consequently the overprinting is very badly done, and 
all sorts of minor varieties in the way of broken and 
missing letters can be found. As, however, these are 
not constant, but due simply to poor tools and poor 
workmanship, they are hardly worthy of mention. 

CHECK LIST. 

Stamps of 1910 overprinted in black. 

Type I. — With $ sign between the two words. 

lc violet (vertical.) 

2 c green (vertical.) 

3c orange-brown (vertical.) 

3c orange-brown (diagonal.) 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

4c carmine (diagonal.) 

5c orange (vertical.) 

5c orange (diagonal.) 

15c gray-blue and claret (vertical.) 

20 c red and blue (diagonal.) 

50c red-brown and black (diagonal.) 

1 peso blue and black (diagonal.) 

Type II. — Two lines of surcharge close together. 

5c orange (vertical.) 

5c orange (diagonal.) 

Stamps of 1910 overprinted in purple. 

Type I. — With $ sign between the two words. 

lc violet (vertical.) 

4c carmine (vertical.) 

5c orange (vertical.) 

10 c blue and orange (diagonal.) 

20 c red and blue (diagonal inverted.) 

50c red-brown and black (diagonal.) 

78 


XV. — The Matehuala Issue. 


EC 

M 

Matehuala is a small town in the State of San Luis 
Potosi, situated in the center of a silver and lead mining 
district. It has a population of about 15,000. The surcharge 
used here consists of the letters “E. C. M.,” the two 
former being placed above the last one. We know little 
about this overprint, and the only used ones we have 
seen on cover, were cancelled “Villa de Guadeloupe” 
which is also in San Luis Potosi. This overprint is al- 
ways in violet or purple. 

CHECK LIST. 

A. — Surcharged on issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

2 c green. 

B. — Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2 c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10 c blue. 

C. — Surcharged on Denver revenues. 

lc red. 

(Without talon.) 

3<c red. 

XVI. — The Monterrey Issue. 

GOBIERNO 

CQN5TITUCIDNALISTA 

Monterrey is the capital of the State of Nuevo Leon 
and has a population of about 80,000. It gives its name 

79 


to an overprint which was extensively used in the State 
of Nuevo Leon, and probably elsewhere as well, owing 
to the fact that this particular type was first issued from 
the Monterrey post-office. The surcharge consists of the 
words “GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA” in 
small sans-serif capitals, arranged in two lines, the let- 
ters of the longer word being smaller than those of 
“GOBIERNO.” As a general rule this overprint was ap- 
plied diagonally — either reading upwards or downwards, 
but on some stamps it was applied horizontally ot ver- 
tically. It is probable several different hand-stamps 
were used and one of these has the longer word spelled 
“CONSITUCIONALISTA.” This was evidently noted 
for it was not used to any great extent. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged diagonally in Purple or Violet. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

10c blue and orange. 

1 peso blue and black. 

B. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Pair; one with magenta surcharge. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Error “OONSIT”’ 

3c orange-brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Error “aiNSIT’” 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

(b) Horizontal surcharge. 

(c) Error “CONSIT” 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Error “CONSIT” 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge; one vertical. 

20e red and blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

80 


50c red-brown and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Horizontal surcharge. 

1 peso blue and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Horizontal surcharge. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

C. — On Postage Due stamps. 

2c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

4c blue. 

10c blue. 


Surcharged in Black or Purple-black. 
A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c orange -brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Surcharge in blue-black. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray -blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50c red -brown and black. 

(a) Double surcharge; one in purple. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

B. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

2c blue. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

4c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

5c blue. 

10c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

Surcharged in Magenta. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

20c red and blue. 

1 peso blue and black. 


81 


B. — On issue of 1910. 




lc violet. 

2 c green. 

3c orange. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

(b) Vertical surcharge. 

10 c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20 c red and blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Horizontal surcharge. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

C. — On Transitorio issue. 


lc deep blue. 

2 c yellow green. 

4c blue violet. 

5c gray -green. 

10 c red. 

20 c yellow brown. 

50c claret. 

1 peso bright violet. 

D. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2 c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

Surcharged in Green on issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

3c orange-brown. 

5c orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Vertical surcharge. 

(d) Double surcharge; both vertical. 

10 c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 


82 


Surcharged in Blue on issue of 1910 . 


2 c green. 

5c orange. 

15c gray -blue and claret. 
20 c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 
1 peso blue and black. 


XVII. — The Nuevo Leon Issue. 


Gob. 

Const* 


The overprint, illustrated above, consisting of the 
words “Gob. Const.” in two lines in small letters, is 
sometimes ascribed to Nuevo Leon, and sometimes to 
Celaya. The first named is a State, in which Monterrey, 
is the chief town, so that the description is certainly 
somewhat sweeping. Celaya is a town in the State of 
Guanajuato. Which is correct, we cannot say, for none 
of the used ones we have seen had cancellations that 
were decipherable. A second type of this overprint 
exists with the second word spelled “Ccnst” and this 
seems commoner than the normal spelling. Both types 
are struck diagonally in purple. 

0 

CHECK LIST. 

Type I (Const.) — Surcharged on Postage Due stamps, 
lc blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10 c blue. 


Type II (Ccnst.)— On issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

2 c green. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10 c blue and orange. 


83 


Type II (Ccnst.) — On Postage Due stamp*. 

lc blue. 

2e blue. 

4e blue. 

9e blue. 

10c blue. 

XVIII. — The Salamanca Issue. 

Gbno. 

Const. 

Salamanca is a small town in the State of Guanajuato, 
and the surcharge used here consists of the words 
“GBNO. CONST.” is capital letters, in two lines, as 
shown above. This surcharge is always in green, and is 
stamped horizontally. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910. 

le yiolet. 

3c green. 

3c orange -brown. 

4c earmine. 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10c blue. 


84 


XIX. — The San Luis Potosi Issue. 


E.6 

OE 

M. 


San Luis Potosi is the capital of the State of the same 
name, and has a population of about 65,000. It is the 
seat of a university and a bishopric, but owes its im- 
portance to rich silver mines, and a trade in hides. The 
overprint used in this town consists of the letters ‘*E. 
C. deM.” as illustrated above. It is, with one exception, 
always printed in magenta. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c orange-brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

(a) Dull violet surcharge. 

10c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

Surcharged on Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10c blue. 

XX. — The Sinaloa issue. 


G3BIERN0 

CONSTITUGIOHALISTA 


Sinaloa is the Pacific State of Mexico, with the Gulf 
85 


of California on its west, covering an area of 33,681 
square miles. A surcharge, bearing some resemblance 
to the Monterrey overprint, was in general use in this 
State, and especially at the towns of Culiacan (the cap- 
ital) and Mazatlan. The overprint has the words “GO- 
BIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA,” arranged in two 
lines, in sans-serif capitals, the lettering being the same 
size in both words. The overprinting was done at 
Culiacan and the postmaster evidently took the official in- 
structions literally, for he surcharged all the stamps he 
had on hand — Federal, Transitorio, and Denver issues as 
well as the postage dues. It has been asserted in some 
quarters that the surcharged Transitorio and Denver is- 
sues were never used. Nothing could be more incorrect 
for during a period extending over some weeks these 
stamps were used almost exclusively, of which we have 
ample proof in the shape of innumerable large and bulky 
covers addressed to the Auditor’s Office of the Southern 
Pacific Railway of Mexico from various parts of 
the State. As a rule the surcharge was in purple and 
was applied diagonally, but there are exceptions as 
shown in our check list. There were at least two hand- 
stamps, the one most generally in use being without 
period after “CONSTITUCIONALISTA.” 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged diagonally in Purple or Violet. 

A. — On issue of 1899-1903. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

3c orange-brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

4c carmine. 

6c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

15c lavender and claret. 


86 


B. — On issue of 1910 . 

lc violet. 

(a) With period. 

2 c green. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(c) With period. 

3c orange brown. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

(b) Surcharge double. 

(c) Pair; one wthout surcharge. 

(d) With period. 

4c carmine. 

(a) With period. 

5c orange. 

(a) With period. 

(b) Gray -black overprint. 

10 c blue and orange. 

(a) With period. 

(a) Gray -black overprint. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) With period. 

20 c red and blue. 

(a) With period. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

B. — On “Transitorio” issue. 

lc deep blue. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

2 c yellow-green. 

(a) Surcharged inverted. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

(c) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(d) Pair; one without surcharge and other with inverted 
surcharge. 

(e) Purple-black overprint. 

4c blue-violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Vertical surcharge. 

(c) With period. 

(d) Purple-black overprint. 

5c gray -green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Pair; imperforate between. 

(c) Gray-black overprint. 

87 


10c red. 

(a) Vertical surcharge. 

(b) Three surcharges on two stamps. 

(c) With period. 

20c yellow-brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Vertical surcharge. 

(c) Gray-black overprint. 

50c claret. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

1 peso bright violet. 

(a) Vertical overprint. 

C. — On perforated Transitorio stamp. 

5c green. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

D. — On Denver issue. 

lc pale blue. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

(b) With period. 

2c light green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

3c orange. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

5c deep rose. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

10c rose. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Pair; one without surcharge. 

15c rose-lilac. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

50c yellow. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

1 peso violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

E. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Double surcharge. 

2c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

10c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

88 


XXI. — The Torreon “horseshoe” surcharge. 



Torreon is but a small town in the State of Coahuila 
and yet it has issued at least two distinct types of sur- 
charge. The first of these consists of the words “GO- 
BIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA” arranged in the 
form of a horseshoe (hence the name by which this type 
is usually known) with the letters “T.C.” in the center in 
larger capitals. These letters simply indicate the name 
of the town and state — Torreon, Coahuila. This over- 
print was, with few exceptions, applied in purple ink. All 
values also exist with a double surcharge in two different 
colors. A later type has the letters “T. M.” in the center, 
the latter, of course, signifying “Mexico.” Whether this 
was ever used or not we cannot say. We have only seen 
it on the 15c and 20c values, and do not know of a used 
specimen of either. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged in Purple or Violet. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

20c red and blue. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

B. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

(c) Magenta surcharge. 

2c green. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

3 c orange-brown. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

4 c carmine. 


89 


5c orange. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

(c) Black surcharge. 

(d) Magenta surcharge. 

10 c blue and orange. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) Magenta surcharge. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

20 e red and blue. 

(a) Pair; one without surcharge. 

(b) One surcharge on two stamps. 

Surcharged in Magenta and Purple. 

It violet. 

2 c green. 

Surcharged in Magenta and Green. 

le violet. 

3c orange brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10 c blue and orange. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20 c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

Surcharged in Purple and Green. 

It violet. 


Surcharged in Magenta and Blue. 

3c orange brown. 

Surcharged “T M” in Purple on issue of 1910 . 
15c gray-blue and claret. 

20 e red and blue. 


90 


XXII. — The Torreon “One-Line” Surcharge. 



Another type of surcharge, generally ascribed to Tor- 
reon, consists of the words “GOBIERNO CONSTITU- 
CIONALISTA” in small capitals in one line applied 
diagonally. Sometimes it reads upwards from the left 
lower to the upper right corners and sometimes it reads 
downwards from the left upper to the right lower corners. 
Though generally known as the Torreon overprint, be- 
cause this type was first used in that town, there were 
several handstamps used at different localities, not only 
in Coahuila State, but in Chihuahua as well. Unfortunate- 
ly many of these overprints are very indistinct, but it is 
probable further study will result in the proper segrega- 
tion of the types. For the present we have deemed it 
best to list them under the general heading given above. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged in Purple or Violet. 

A. — On issue of 1899. 

3 c orange-brown. 

B. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

3 c orange-brown. 

5 c orange. 

15 c gray-blue and claret. 

50 c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 


91 


C. — On Postage Due stamps. 

2c blue. 

5c blue. 

Surcharged in Magenta. 

A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

3c orange-brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

15c gray-blue and claret. 

20c red and blue. 

50c red-brown and black. 

1 peso blue and black. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

5 pesos carmine and black. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

B. — On Postage Due stamps. 

lc blue. 

2c blue. 

4c blue. 

5c blue. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

10c blue. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

Surcharged in Pink or Red. 

A. — On issue of 1910. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c orange-brown. 

4c carmine. 

10c blue and orange. 

20c red and blue. 

B. — On Postage Due stamps. 

2c blue. 

4c blue. 

(a) Double surcharge. 

5c blue. 

Surcharged in blue on issue of 1910. 


5c orange. 


92 


XXIII. — The Zacatecas Issue. 



Zacatecas is the capital of the State of the same name, 
and has a population of about 40,000. It contains a 
cathedral, mint, and institute of sciences, while its chief 
industry is the reduction of silver ore. The overprint 
used in Zacatecas is very similar to that of Aguascalien- 
tes, but with the letters “Z. M.” in the center. This over- 
print is undoubtedly rare and is found in two types. One 
of these, known in green on the 5c and 10c values only 
we consider of doubtful authenticity. 

CHECK LIST. 

Surcharged on stamps of 1910, in purple. 

lc violet. 

5 c orange. 

10 c red and blue. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910, in dull blue. 

10 c blue and orange. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910, in Magenta. 

lc violet. 

Surcharged on issue of 1910, in green (?.) 

5 c orange. 

10 c blue and orange. 



93 


Jkpp^ndass A* 

The OFFICIAL STAMPS. 

I. — The Rouletted Issue. 

All five values of the rouletted “famous men” set are 
known overprinted “OFICIAL” in antique capitals for 
official use. The surcharge was applied to whole sheets 
of one hundred stamps at a time and there are no minor 
varieties. All values are, however, known with the 
overprinted word inverted. 

These stamps are also known overprinted “OFICIAL” 
diagonally , in small block capitals, in violet by means of 
a handstamp. We believe these were not issued but were 
a private speculation on the part of some one who evi- 
dentally thought Mexican stamps lacked variety! 

CHECK LIST. 

Overprinted “OFICIAL” in black; rouletted. 

lc violet. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 

2c green. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 

3c brown. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 

4c carmine. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 

5c orange. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 

10c ultramarine. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

(b) Imperforate. 


94 


II. — The Perforated Issue. 

At the same time the official stamps described in the 
last chapter appeared, the higher values — 40c, 1 peso and 
5 pesos, of the engraved stamps were similiarly over- 
printed. All three values also exist with the surcharge 
upside down. Later still the perforated low values w'ere 
also overprinted. 

CHECK LIST. 

Overprinted “OFICIAL” in black; perf. 12 . 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

3c brown. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c dull blue. 

40c slate. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

1 peso brown and black. 

(a) Inverted surcharge. 

5 pesos claret and ultramarine. 

(a) Surcharge inverted. 

III.— The “G. P. deM.” Issue. 

All values of the 1910 issue, up to and including the 
1 peso, overprinted “G. P. de M.”, were also surcharged 
“OFFICIAL’ ’in black. On all the specimens we have 
seen the “G. P. de M.” overprint on the smaller stamps 
reads vertically upwards at the left. 

CHECK LIST. 

Overprinted “OFICIAL” in black. 

lc violet, “G. P. deM.” in red. 

lc violet, “G. P. deM.” in blue. 

2c green, “G. P. deM.” in red. 

3c orange-brown, “G. P. deM.” in blue. 

4c carmine, “G. P. deM.” in blue. 

5c orange, “G. P. deM.” in blue. 

10c blue and orange, “G. P. deM.” in red. 

15c gray-blue and claret “G. P. deM.” in black. 

20c red and blue “G. P. deM.” in black. 

50c red-brown and black, “G. P. deM.” 

1 peso blue and black, “G. P. deM.” in red. 

» 95 


IV. — The “Foreign Service” Overprint. 


FOREIGN 

SERVICE 


In addition to the regular official surcharges, a few of 
the values of the 1910 issue were overprinted “FOR- 
EIGN SERVICE” in two lines as illustrated above. Be- 
yond the fact that we have seen covers, which appear 
to be undoubtedly genuine, bearing these stamps we can 
give no information concerning this issue. 

CHECK LIST. 

Issue of igio overprinted “FOREIGN SERVICE” in violet. 

lc violet. 

2c green. 

4c carmine. 

5c orange. 

10c blue and orange. 


MppmmMm 3 . 

Revenue Stamps Used for Postage. 

Quite a number of the Mexican revolutionary revenue 
stamps have been adapted to postal usage from time to time, 
but little seems to be known regarding the status of 
these varieties at present. Careful study of these stamps 
will doubtless result in the recognition of many inter- 
esting varieties and also enable us to know which were 
officially authorized for postal use and which merely 
passed through the post through laxity or ignorance. 
We must frankly admit we have been unable to obtain 
any information on this important point at the time of 
writing. 

The “ejercito” issue, which though originally intended 
for revenue purposes, was at first used provisionally for 

96 


postage, was later surcharged by means of hand stamps 
with the names of various towns to show undoubted 
fiscal use. But even these were used for postage from 
time to time, as we have had ample evidence of in the 
shape of obviously genuine covers. 

Several values of the Denver revenue set were pro- 
visionally used as postage stamps at Matehuala and 
other towns during a temporary shortage of ordinary 
stamps. We have seen these used with and without the 
coupon and all seem to be scarce. 

The most interesting of all these revenues provision- 
ally used for postage are, however, the stamps of spe- 
cial design printed from engraved plates in Mexico City. 
Stanley Gibbons’ catalogue lists four of these stamps as 
having been issued at Tuxtla, Vera Cruz, these particu- 
lar varieties being recorded as handstamped “CORREOS” 
in red or violet. We have seen others which appear to 
have this same word printed from type and some of 
these are known with the “C” of “CORREOS” omitted. 
Others, again, were used for postage without any spe- 
cial overprint, but all these stamps are, at present, so 
scarce that any attempt at a check list would be futile. 


Appendix 

Concluding Notes. 

In addition to the various surcharges described in the 
foregoing pages and which are, with the exceptions 
noted, generally accepted as legitimately issued varieties, 
there are many others some of which are undoubtedly 
bogus, and others, again, which we have no doubt will 
prove to be as legitimate and collectible as any we have 
described in this small volume. 

In the printed surcharges we found in a small lot of 
common stamps a 10c of the 1910 issue with “GOBIER- 
NO” curved above the portrait in graded capitals and 
“CONSTITUCIONALISTA” across the base in a 


97 


straight line. This was so well done we imagined it 
was a new type just coming into use and attached no 
importance to it. This is the only copy we have seen 
personally, but we are informed by a correspondent 
that some thousands of the 10c, 15c and 20c values were 
surcharged in this manner at Mazatlan and all were 
bought up by a business firm there and used on mail 
sent to Central and South America. Before more were 
overprinted a full supply of the regularly surcharged “GO- 
BIERNO $ CONSTITUCIONALISTA” stamps were 
received doing away with the necessity of further local 
overprinting. 

Mr. Luff has shown us a block of four of the 5c of 
1910 overprinted “Gobierno — Constitucio — nalista” in 
Old English lettering in three lines reading downwards. 
One of these has period, the others have no period, and 
one of the latter shows an error “siit” for “stit.” Mr. 
Luff tells us these were received in a letter franked with 
a 10c stamp with similar surcharge and cancelled, “Mex- 
ico, D. F. 14 SEP 15.” 

In hand-stamped surcharges we have seen the 5c with 
“GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA” in two lines 
of small capitals surcharged diagonally upwards. Mr. 
Luff tells us the lc, 2c, 4c, and 10c also exist. 

Another surcharge, origin unknown, shows the word 
“CONSTITUCIONALISTA” only. This is in purple 
on the 5c stamps of 1910. 

Another type, attributed to Durango, shows the words 
“Gobierno Constitucionalista” in two lines in fancy script 
letters. A variation of this in the same style of letters 
shows the words in three lines. This is also said to 
have originated in Durango. 

The surcharges “A. M.” and “Z. M.” respectively, in 
large plain capitals are undoubtedly bogus. Another 
surcharge, found on the lc, 2c, 3c, 4c, and 5c values, 
which is probably also bogus, consists of a large capital 
“S” within a double circle. 

A surcharge struck in blue, and consisting of thick 
letters “Z. M.” in the center of a small circle containing 

98 


the words “Gobierno Constitucionalista” is probably 
also to be looked upon with suspicion. 

Another doubtful surcharge is very like the San Luis 
Potosi type, but with the letters of slightly different 
shape and without the word “de.” 

Some of the most curious of the makeshift provisionals 
consist of stamps surcharged with an ordinary type- 
writer. Mr. Luff has shown us the 3c of 1899, and the 
15c, 20c, 50c and 1 peso of 1910, and we have also seen 
the 2c, 4c and 5c of the same issue. These were un- 
doubtedly used in a, bona-fide manner in some places. 

Then we have seen the 5c of 1910, mailed from some 
small town in San Luis Potosi, (the name is not decipher- 
able) with an overprint of the letters “E. C.” which ap- 
pears to have been written by hand with red chalk. 

Finally control marks were used at certain towns, but 
for what reason we have been unable to discover. We 
have seen “ALLENDE” on all sorts of stamps, and also 
“YURIRIA” on the ordinary stamps of 1910, and those 
with printed surcharges. Doubtless many other varieties 
exist. Sometimes these control marks appear to have 
been applied after the stamps were affixed to the letters. 



99 


Acambaro 

Aguascalientes 

Allende 

A. M 63, 

Anvil Issue 

Appendix A 

Appendix B 

Appendix C 

Army in Transit 

Baja Cal 

Bogus varieties 

Caranza Commemorative 

Carranza G. C. M 

Chihuahua 

Coach Seal issue 

Colima 

Constitucional 

Culiacan 

Denver 

Durango 

E. C 

E. C. de M 

E. C. M 


E C. Transitorio 62, 66 

Ejercito issue 27 

Engraved stamps 37 

E. S 69 

Famous Men stamps 

34, 36, 94, 95 

Foreign Service 96 

Foreword 5 

Gbno. Const 84 

G. C 62 

G. C. M. (Carranza) 47 

G. C. M. Durango 68 

G. C. M. (handstamped) 56 

G. C. M. (Villa) 44 

Gno. Consta 54 

Gob. Cons 76 

Gob. Const 76, 83 

Gobierno Const 55 

Gobierno Constitucionalista 
41, 64, 71, 72, 77, 79, 85, 91, 97 

G. P. de M 49, 52, 95 

Green seal issue 14 

Guanajuato 54, 71 


62 

63 

99 

98 

21 

94 

96 

.97 

62 

.20 

.98 

.39 

.47 

.64 

.17 

.66 

.12 

.66 

.33 

.68 

.72 

.85 

.79 


Guay mas 72 

Handstamped surcharges 56 

Juarez 72 

Leon 76 

Lower California 20, 77 

Matehuala 79 

Mazatlan 98 

Mexico City 98 

Monterrey 79 

Nuevo Leon 83 

Oaxaca issues 23 

Official stamps 94 

Plata 22 

Printed surcharges 40 

Revenues used postally 96 

Salamanca 84 

San Luis Potosi 85, 99 


Section A (Type-set stamps). 10 
Section B (Special designs).. 27 
Section C (Printed 


surcharges) 40 

Section D (Handstamped 

surcharges) 56 

Sinaloa 85 

Sonora (ES) 69 

Special designs 27 

Surcharges (handstamped) ...56 

Surcharges (printed) 40 

T. C 89 

T. M 89 

Torreon surcharges ..40, 89, 91 

Transitorio 30, 32 

Tuxtla 55 

Type-set stamps 10 

Victoria de Torreon 40 

White seal issue 10 

Villa G. C. M 44 

Yuriria 99 

Zacatecas 93 

Z. M 93, 98 





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